Shire of Esperance MUNICIPAL HERITAGE INVENTORYfor The Shire of Esperance. by O'Brien Planning Consultants Suite 23/1 Rokeby Road P0 Box 1136 SUBIACO WA 6008 Tel: 388 2308 Fax: 388

Shire of Esperance

MUNICIPAL HERITAGE INVENTORY

- -

------------'. ---. ----.-.-.----.-.--

O'BRIEN PLANNING CONSULTANTS

for

The Shire of Esperance

by

O'Brien Planning ConsultantsSuite 23/1 Rokeby Road

P0 Box 1136SUBIACO WA 6008

Tel: 388 2308Fax: 388 2327

June 1996

A CKNO WLEDGEMENTS

A community project the size of the Shire of Esperance Municipal Inventory isonly possible with the enthusiasm, energy and hard work of a number of people.

Beginning with the Community Liaison Committee, we are extremely grateful tothe members of the Committee for the hours of work and the many years ofknowledge which you have collectively contributed to the Inventory.Thanks to Jenny Allen, Don Voigt, Kayleen Freeman and Andy Dunn for theadditional research which they contributed. You have all made it so much easierfor future generations to know about and appreciate the places of heritage valuein the Esperance district.

To the Esperance Shire Council Staff and the Councillors who showed an interestin the project, your contribution and assistance were much appreciated.

We would like to acknowledge the work of John Rintoul, Esperance - Yesterdayand Today which contributed greatly to our production of the ThematicFramework Matrix.

Our thanks go also to the Heritage Council of WA who are always willing toassist us with information and advice.

O'Brien Planning ConsultantsJune 1996

PagePART A THE PROCESS

1. Introduction 1

2. Methodology 3

2.1 Outline of Proposed Approach to Project

3

2.2 Thematic Framework Matrix 6

and Historical Overview

2.3 The Community Liaison Committee 8

2.4 Public Participation 9

2.5 The Assessment Phase 9

2.5.1 Summary of Assessment Process

9

2.6 Maps showing Shire of Esperance

13

PART B THE THEMATIC FRAMEWORK

1. Thematic Framework

11.1 Historical Overview

1

1.2 Thematic Framework Matrix

54

1.3 List of Themes, Subthemes and Site Types

55

1.4 Bibliography

61

THE INVENTORY

Shire of EsperanceMunicipal Heritage Inventory

1.1 List of Places on Inventory1.2 List of Places for further research by Review Committee

List of Historic Sites

Place Record Forms for Places listed on theShire of Esperance Municipal Heritage Inventory

PART C

1.

2.

3.

1

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4

following

SHIRE OF ESPERANCE MUNICIPAL HERITAGE INVENTORY Page 1

The Shire and community of Esperance are to be commended on the way theyenthusiastically approached the daunting task of compiling a MunicipalHeritage Inventory. After months of extensive research and editing by agroup of local people, they have compiled a local resource document of whichthey can justly be proud.

The Heritage Act of 1990, which requires all local authorities in WesternAustralia to compile a Municipal Heritage Inventory, provides an opportunityfor the local community in the Esperance district to celebrate their roots andheritage. The process of compiling a Heritage Inventory enables the citizensof Esperance to identify those places of historical and cultural significance forthe communities in the district.

The Municipal Heritage Inventory process focuses on events anddevelopments in Western Australian history since the arrival of Europeansettlers. It does not attempt to record the legacy of Aboriginal occupationprior to the European settlement in Western Australia. This is beyond thescope of this project. The complexities that arise in recording 40,000 years ofAboriginal habitation in Australia are immense. The history of the AustralianAboriginal people is a rich collation of memories, passed down thegenerations, using the traditional time honoured oral method.

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Aboriginal Heritage Act willensure that significant aspects of Aboriginal history and culture relating to theperiod before European settlement are recorded and preserved. In thisprocess the overlap between the European settlers and the Aboriginal peoplein the district will be noted where information is available.

People usually think of the word 'heritage' as relating only to old things. Onedifference between a History and the Heritage Inventory is that the Inventorycan also reflect buildings and sites associated with present day activities in thearea. The everyday events of today will become the history of tomorrow.

The Shire of Esperance appointed O'Brien Planning Consultants to assistwith the compilation of their Inventory in the middle of 1994. The consultantsworked in close liaison with the Heritage Council and their approach to theHeritage Inventory Process was formulated in close consultation with theProject Manager.

The Shire of Esperance Municipal Heritage Inventory is the result of manyhours of researching and of recording information relating to a number ofplaces in the Esperance district. This information will now be available toassist in sound decision making at a local government level in relation to those



properties . The Inventory is the property of the Shire of Esperance andadministration of any aspects relating to the Inventory is the realm of the localgovernment.

It is important to stress the dynamic nature of the Municipal HeritageInventory. This first edition lays the groundwork for the ongoing process ofreviewing and updating the Inventory regularly. Material which has not beenincluded in this initial document will be reviewed by a future reviewcommittee, and the work of identifying significant places to include on theInventory will continue.



2.1. OUTLINE OF THE APPROACH TAKEN TO THEPROJECT

The role of the consultants in the process of compiling the Shire of EsperanceMunicipal Heritage Inventory was to co-ordinate and guide the LocalGovernment and community input, using the guidelines formulated by theHeritage Council. Involving the local community extensively in the processhad a number of benefits:

Community enthusiasm and ownership of the project.

• A financial benefit, as much of the research and work involved in theproject was done by local volunteers.

The process had nine (9) stages.

i) The Research Phase

• The consultants researched the history of the Esperance region, usingthe local history Esperance Yesterday and Today by John Rintoul andother resources available in the Battye Library.

• The consultants prepared a first draft of the Historical Overview andThematic Framework Matrix, drawing together their researchinformation.

• The consultants briefly researched information about places which hadalready been identified as having heritage value in the Esperance area,and they drew up a preliminary list from material which had previouslybeen collected, either by the National Trust, the Heritage Council, theShire of Esperance or by local interest groups in the area. This listprovided the basis for the nomination phase of the Inventory process.

ii) Establishing the Community Committee

• A public invitation to participate in the process was circulated in thecommunity.

• Letters were sent to a wide range of interest groups and individuals,asking for help and support for the project.

• A Steering Committee consisting of local people, Councillors andSenior Council Staff members was formed. They assisted in theselection of O'Brien Planning Consultants as the consultants toassist them compile the Inventory



• At a public meeting on 7 September 1994 the consultants outlinedthe process to the Committee and other interested people. Thismeeting took the form of a Heritage Celebration held at the CivicCentre, at which local people were given the opportunity toreminisce about bygone days in Esperance. They were also asked tonote those places in the district which they considered should beincluded on the Municipal Heritage Inventory.

iii) Finalising the Framework/Search Conference

• The first draft of the Thematic Framework was given to theCommunity Liaison Committee for comment, correction, andadditions. A great deal of effort went into the Committee editingprocess and Jenny Allen, Don Voigt and Kayleen Freeman are to becommended on their contribution. In some cases the informationthey provided was, however, more detailed than is appropriate forthis process. The consultants therefore edited the material further.All the additional information will be kept for future reference.

iv) The Nomination Phase

• A decision was made by the Community Committee and by the Shireof Esperance that owners would be encouraged to nominate theirown properties rather than nominations coming from the generalpublic. It was decided that the Committee would keep close controlof the nomination process and would take joint responsibility fornominations.

• The preliminary list was made available, and the Committee set aboutpreparing nomination forms for places and sites arising out of theframework. Guidelines about types of possible sites relating to thethemes and sub themes in the Thematic Framework were available tothe Committee.

v) Review and Assessment of Nominated Places

• The list of nominations was reviewed by the Committee and theconsultants.

• Nominated places and sites were taken through an AssessmentProcess to establish relative importance of places, after which a listwas created which became the Draft Municipal Inventory.

• Some additional places were nominated by individual members of theCommittee after the initial assessment workshop. The consultantsevaluated the nominations, and decided to include some places whichwere central to the history of Esperance. The other places,



particularly the private residences, were not included at this stage.They will be researched and assessed by a full committee when theInventory is reviewed at a later date.

• As there was a lot of interest in places which are no longer physicallypresent, the decision was made to have a secondary list of historicalsites which would have brief annotations about their significance inrelation to the history of the Esperance district. Photographs ofsome of these former places were used to illustrate the thematicframework (historical overview).

vi) Draft Inventory

• The consultants prepared the Draft Inventory, based on therecommendations of the Committee as to which places should beincluded in the Draft Inventory.

vii) Advertise Draft Inventory/Call for Submissions

• Owners of nominated places were informed that their properties werelisted on the Inventory prior to the advertising of the Draft Inventory.

• The Draft Inventory was advertised.

• Submissions on proposed entries were invited.

viii) Draft Approval by Council

• The Draft Inventory was submitted to Council for comments andamendments prior to the preparation of the Final Inventory.

ix) Preparation of Final Heritage Inventory

• The consultants prepared the final copy of the Municipal HeritageInventory which then became the property of the Shire Council onbehalf of the local community.

• A copy was sent to the Western Australian Heritage Council forpublic information.



2.2 THE THEMATIC FRAMEWORK MATRIX ANDHISTORICAL OVERVIEW

In preparing the Thematic Framework Matrix and the Historical Overview forthe Shire of Esperance Municipal Heritage Inventory, the consultants followedthe Heritage Council Guidelines and used the concept of a blank matrix whichoutlined themes through time on one level, corresponding to important timeperiods at another level.

The Thematic Framework addressed the following:

• Important time periods for the area.

• Why people settled.

• How people moved, made a living and socialised together.

• Community efforts and civic structures.

* Outside influences.

* People who left their mark on the history of the community.

The cut off dates between time periods were determined according toimportant events, for example the discovery of gold after 1892, and thedepression in 1929. The thematic framework was not intended to be adefinitive history of the area. The objective of the framework was to provide abrief yet comprehensive picture reflecting aspects of the history of the Shire ofEsperance from its beginnings to the present. The major themes were enhancedby including a number of sub themes which portrayed the history of theEsperance area over time. For example, the theme of Community Effortsincluded descriptions of local government; education; law and order;community service and utilities; sport, recreation and entertainment; religion;cultural activities; institutions and environmental awareness.

The framework provided the indicators as to which significant places and sitesin the Esperance area might be noted for inclusion in the Inventory. With theThematic Framework providing the backdrop, the individual places and sitestook on a contextual significance from the start of the process.

The matrix format of the framework was expanded into the HistoricalOverview, a concise, illustrated, historical narrative, elaborating on some of theaspects noted in the Matrix. This "potted history" can be a stand alonedocument, and may be useful beyond the Inventory process. We encourage itsuse for other communitiy activities and projects.


ell

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SHIRE OF ESPERANCE THEMATIC FRAMEWORK MATRIX

PERIOD 1792-1891 1892-1908 1909-1929 1930-19491950-1979 1976-1995THEME/ EXPLORATION AND GOLD, POPULATION SURVIVAL DEPRESSION AND MODERN PROGRESSSUBTHEME SETTLEMENT RISES AND FALLS WORLD WAR II PIONEERS1. DEMOGRAPHIC

SETTLEMENTAND MOBILITYWhy people settledWhy they moved awayThe things they left behindSub_theme(s)

2. TRANSPORT ANDCOMMUNICATIONSHow people and goodsmovedHow people communicatedand exchanged informationSub_theme(s)

3. OCCUPATIONSWhat people didforsustenance or to add qualityto life; paid and unpaidlabourSub theme(s)

4. COMMUNITY EFFORTSWhat people did together as acommunity,-the issues thatdivided them; the structuresthey created to serve civicneedsSub_theme(s)

5. OUTSIDE INFLUENCES:Events, decisions or changeswhich affected the

community, but were beyondits control

Sub_theme(s)6. PEOPLE

I


2.3 THE COMMUNITY LIAISON COMMITTEE

The Heritage Act of 1990 clearly stated that the Heritage Inventory was to becompiled with community consultation. The Shire of Esperancerepresentatives identified a number of individuals, community groups andassociations who might have been interested in participating in the process.After advertising the project, a meeting was held and a Community Committeeor Working Group was formed by those people who were keen to assist in theprocess.

The Committee played an essential role in the collection of information for theInventory process, and O'Brien Planning Consultants would like tocongratulate them and thank them for the enormous amount of effort andknowledge that went into preparing the material for the Draft Inventory report.

At its meeting in September 1993, Council resolved to advertise in the localpress seeking expressions of interest for membership of a Steering Committeeto guide the Inventory process. Twelve (12) applications were receivedSeven (7) of the applicants were invited to join the committee together withtwo (2) Councillors and two (2) Senior Council Staff members. The firstmeeting of the Committee was held on 22 December 1993.

It took a little while for the members to familiarise themselves with thenecessary prodedures and in March 1994 expressions of interest were calledfor the preparation of the Inventory. Twelve (12) consultants sought thecommission. At its meeting in April 1994, Council adopted therecommendation of the Committee and appointed O'Brien Planningconsultants to prepare the document.

In September 1994, Val O'Brien and Cathy Day visited Esperance to conducta public meeting (Heritage Celebration) and liaise with the Committee. As aresult, definitive tasks were set and a number of Committee meetings wereheld to compile the necessary information requiredfor the Draft Inventory.

In March 1995, Val and Cathy re-visited Esperance to conduct a workshopwith the Committee and collate all the gathered information. The committeemet on two (2) further occasions to fine tune the Thematic Framework andcomplete the assessment of Place Record Forms for compilation of the DraftInventory. In these regards the work of Committee members Jenny Allen, DonVoigt and Kayleen Freeman needs to be highlighted

For various reasons, five (5) members of the original Committee were notinvolved with the final preparation of the Draft document, however their ablereplacements ensured a most satisfactory result.



2.3 THE COMMUNITY LIAISON COMMITTEE

The Heritage Act of 1990 clearly stated that the Heritage Inventory was to becompiled with community consultation. The Shire of Esperancerepresentatives identified a number of individuals, community groups andassociations who might have been interested in participating in the process.After advertising the project, a meeting was held and a Community Committeeor Working Group was formed by those people who were keen to assist in theprocess.

The Committee played an essential role in the collection of information for theInventory process, and O'Brien Planning Consultants would like tocongratulate them and thank them for the enormous amount of effort andknowledge that went into preparing the material for the Draft Inventory report.

At its meeting in September 1993, Council resolved to advertise in the localpress seeking expressions of interest for membership of a Steering Committeeto guide the Inventory process. Twelve (12) applications were receivedSeven (7) of the applicants were invited to join the committee together withtwo (2) Councillors and two (2) Senior Council Staff members. The firstmeeting of the Committee was held on 22 December 1993.

It took a little while for the members to familiarise themselves with thenecessary procedures and in March 1994 expressions of interest were calledfor the preparation of the Inventory. Twelve (12) consultants sought thecommission. At its meeting in April 1994, Council adopted therecommendation of the Committee and appointed O'Brien PlanningConsultants to prepare the document.

In September 1994, Val O'Brien and Cathy Day visited Esperance to conducta public meeting (Heritage Celebration) and liaise with the Committee. As aresult, definitive tasks were set and a number of Committee meetings wereheld to compile the necessary information requiredfor the Draft Inventory.

In March 1995, Val and Cathy re-visited Esperance to conduct a workshopwith the Committee and collate all the gathered information. The committeemet on two (2) further occasions to fine tune the Thematic Framework andcomplete the assessment of Place Record Forms for compilation of the DraftInventory. In these regards the work of Committee members Jenny Alien, DonVoigt and Kayleen Freeman needs to be highlighted

For various reasons, five (5) members of the original Committee were notinvolved with the final preparation of the Draft document, however their ablereplacements ensured a most satisfactory result.



2.4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The broader public was invited to be part of the Inventory process in a range ofways. Once the Committee had been formed, planning began for the HeritageParty.

On 7 September 1994 a group of residents came together for an eveningfunction hosted by the Shire of Esperance. The Committee, Shire officials,Councillors and a group of residents enjoyed an evening of reminiscing aboutold times and places. They also learned more about the Inventory process andhow they could make a contribution to the process. The Heritage Celebrationset a very positive and celebratory tone for the next phase of the process, thenomination phase, and the Committee generally met with a positive responsewhen they approached people about nominating their properties.

The Committee took joint responsibility for nominating places to be researchedfor the Inventory. They proceeded according to a preliminary list which wasdrawn by the consultants after extensive consultation. The nomination periodcontinued for a number of weeks, during which time the Committee put anenormous amount of energy into recording information about places, buildingsand sites onto the nomination forms.

2.5 THE ASSESSMENT PHASE

The Committee set about the task of preparing nomination forms in asystematic and methodical way.

Using material based on the Buna Charter and on the Heritage Council'scriteria for assessment of places for inclusion on the State Register, anassessment form was prepared. The aim of the form was to allow a comparisonof places, using a standard set of criteria. This would allow the places on thelist to be assigned a value rating of perceived significance to the community.Such an evaluation, although subjective, could be useful in the event ofdecisions needing to be made about places on the Inventory.

Working in two groups, the Committee worked through the nomination forms,asking a series of questions for each place. The 'yes' or 'no' responses wererecorded and points allocated according to the responses. Using a simplescoring system, it became possible to compare score values of the differentplaces. There was a group of particularly significant places which scoredaround 90 per cent, while the others ranged widely in score. The Committeefound that using the form made assessing the merit of the places relatively easy,and they were pleased at the outcome of the assessment workshop.

After the assessment, the group realised that there were still a few more placesworthy of inclusion. These were researched and added to the final InventoryList.



2.5.1 Summary of Committee Assessment Process

61 places were selected for inclusion in this first edition of the Shire ofEsperance Municipal Heritage Inventory.

24 places were listed as Historic Sites


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SHIRE OF ESPERANCE MUNICIPAL HERITAGE INVENTORY

Page 11 I

SHIRE OF ...............................

MUNICIPAL HERITAGE INVENTORYASSESSMENT FORM

0NAME OF PLACE .................................................................

NO OF PLACE

I. AESTHETIC VALUE

• Is it significant in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by thecommunity?

• Does it have townscape, strcetscapc or landscape value?

• Is it charactei ised by unity of material, design, scale or enhancement of its setting?

2. HISTORIC VALUE

• Is it significant iii the evolution or pattern of thc history for the community?

• Does it have any strong associations with any well known figures, development, eventsor cultural heritage phases?

3. SCIENTIFIC VALUE

• Does it demonstrate potential to yield infonnatiomi that will contribute to allunderstanding of the natural or built/historical value of the place?

• Does it constitute a high degree of technical innovation or achievement for theresearch or educational purposes?

4. SOCIAL VALUE

Is it significant through association with a community or cultural group lbr social,cultural, educational or spiritual reasons?

S. RARITY

• Does it dcnioumstrate rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of the cultural heritage?

• Is it a particularly line or unique example of its type?

• Does it demonstrate a way of life, custom, process or function no longer practised, indanger of being lost or of exceptional interest?

6. REPRESENTATIVENESS

• Is it significant in demonstrating the characteristics of a class of cultural heritageplaces?

• Does it represent any particular period of cultural heritage development?

7, LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE

• Is it significant for the local community?

• Is it significant for the state community?

Is it significant for the national community?

• Is it significant for the international coinnmunity?

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Municipal Heritage Inventory

ASSESSMENT GRADING SHEET

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99

POINTS7 1007 986 967 945 907 886 865 847 826 805 787 766 745 724 707 686 665 644 627 606 585 564 547 526 50

o POINTS5 484 467 446 425 404 383 367 346 325 304 283 266 245 224 203 182 165 144 123 Ii2 104 93 82 73 62 52 41 31 2

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The Shire of Esperance

MUNICIPAL HERITAGE

INVENTORY

by

O'Brien Planning ConsultantsSuite 23/1 Rokeby Road

P0 Box 1136SUBIACO WA 6008

Tel: 388 2308Fax: 388 2327

June 1996

I CONTENTS

Page

1. Introduction 1

2. The Period 1792- 1891 Exploration and Settlement 1

3. The Period 1892 - 1908 Gold, Population Rises and Falls 14

4. The Period 1909 - 1929 Survival 29

5. The Period 1930 - 1949 Depression and Second World War 18

6. The Period 1950 - 1979 Modem Pioneers 31

7. The Period 1980 - 1995 Progress 49

8. Thematic Framework Matrix 54

9. List of Subthemes and Site Types 55

10. Bibliography 61

Front Cover

The Newtown Jetty

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Photograph 1:

Photograph 2:

Photograph 3:

Photograph 4:

Photograph 5:

Photograph 6:

Photograph 7:

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Photograph 10:

Photograph 11:

Photograph 12:

Photograph 13:

Photograph 14:

Photograph 15:

Photograph 16:

Photograph 17:

Photograph 18:

Photograph 19:

Photograph 20:

Photograph 21:

Photograph 22:

Photograph 23

Photograph 24:

Photograph 25:

Photograph 26:

Photograph 27:

Photograph 28:

Photograph 29:

Photograph 30:

Photograph 31:

Photograph 32:

Photograph 33:

Photograph 34

A drystone fireplace on Middle Island

The wreck of the Penguin

The Dempster Homestead

Andrew Dempster, founder of Esperance

Ruins of Fanny Cove Homestead

A wool press at Lynburn Station

The ruins of the Second Telegraph Station

The Bijou Theatre

The First Esperance School

The Wesleyan Church

Esperance Bay Jetty

Dempster Street in 1898

The Dempster woolshed at Wheatfield Lake

Bayview

Grass Patch Farm Homestead

The Salmon Gums Hotel

Harvesting salt at Pink Lake

The first salt shed, and the crushing engine

Bags of Pink Lake salt

Loading the salt at the Esperance Jetty

Building the Grass Patch Hotel

At the opening of the Grass Patch Store

Gibson Soak Hotel

Esperance townsite in the mid 1950s

The War Memorial built c 1924

Central Esperance in the 1950s

The New Tanker Jetty

The Esperance Primary School

The Sinclair House

Elston's Bazaar and Stationery Shop

The Civic Centre

The Esperance Shire Council Administration Centre

The Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm

The Norfolk Island Pine Trees

FOREWORDfrom the Committee

We would like to acknowledge the work of John Rintoul in his publication Esperance -Yesterday and Today. His research has provided a basis for the planning of a ThematicMatrix and Historical Overview of the economic development of Esperance andsurrounding districts.

We would also like to thank the Shire of Esperance's Municipal Heritage InventorySteering Committee who have added to, and amended the information used in the DraftThematic Matrix and Historical Overview owing to more detailed information madeavailable through records and first hand knowledge.

The Committee acknowledges the services of Helen Burgess, Archival Research Officer,Heritage Council, for information concerning Esperance's early hospitals obtained fromThe Esperance Chronicle, 1896, Government Gazettes, 1895, 1929, The EsperanceEcho, 1929, and Story of Kwinana, 1960.

The Committee has referred to Rica Erickson's • text The Dempsters for informationconcerning the Dempste?s involvement in Esperance's early development. The history ofEsperance's early schools was provided through the publication I Remember compiled byLouise Gray. Information on the development of the Mallee area was provided through afamily history by Kayleen Freeman and from The Esperance Echo, 1928, 1929. Thehistorical development of the 1 950s onwards was provided through the text Esperance:Stories of The Modern Pioneers compiled by the Esperance Branch of The Fellowship ofAustralian Writers.

The Committee has been assisted by the research of member Don Voigt, a localhistorian/photographer, for his forthcoming publication on Esperance's history as shownby early photographs. Of assistance, too, was a comprehensive collection of newspaperarticles, references, and notes on Esperance's history by Thelma Daniell, an Esperancewriter and poet. Pat Daniell has been responsible for photographing selected townbuildings. Jenny Florisson and Roger Robertson have photographed historic homesteadsites. Committee members and local residents have supplied personal photographs forreproduction.

Representatives from the Esperance Shire Council, Councillors Brian Pearce (Chairman),Ray Croker (Deputy Chairman), Barry Sponberg, Neville Mulgat, and Dave Pope haveprovided valuable assistance. Jenny Allen has collated and documented the informationfor the revised Historical Overview. Other Committee members who provided valuablecontributions were - Andy Dunn, Val Savage, Stephen Bradley, Nancy Shearer, andVince Daw (deceased). The draft report was edited by Andy Dunn, Don Voigt, JennyAllen, Barry Sponberg, DOLA, Jenny Florisson, Roger Robertson, Kayleen Freeman, andDane Pope.

June 1996

SHIRE OF ESPERANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 1

Over the years Esperance has had a very chequered pattern of development. Peoplearrived in the district with high expectations and their hopes were dashed on numerousoccasions. Today the region is thriving. Economic development shows greatdiversification being successfully supported by agriculture, light industry, commercialfishing, wind power for electricity supply, tourism, and the port, which is used forexporting a wide range of goods, including wheat and iron ore. It is to the credit of thepioneers that they faced times of hardship and stayed to develop an area of promise.

[2.The Period 1792 - 1891

Exploration and Seirlement

The early visits by French explorers to the south western shores of Australia have left alegacy of French names for identification of geographical features and locations. In1792 Raymond Joseph de Bruni and Chevalier d'Entrecasteaux in the ship LaRecherche, along with Huon de Kermadec in the ship L'Esperance, were sent to searchfor the scientific expedition led by La Perouse which had disappeared after leavingBotany Bay. Sailing the Southern Ocean and buffeted by a storm they sought refuge.A young seaman, Ensign Le Grand, was keeping watch and guided the shipL'Esperance into the shelter of an island, Ile Observatoire, (Observatory Island). CapeLe Grand was named after him. Esperance Bay and the Recherche Archipelago taketheir names from the two ships.

The Aboriginal name for the general area of Esperance was Gabba-Kyle (Gabi-Kyley,Gabba-Kyli), 'a place where the water lies in the shape of a boomerang'. The Frenchsaw some Aborigines (Wudjari tribe) on the mainland but made no contact.

The information given in the journal of botanist Jacques de la Billardiere (1792) is asfollows, 'our people saw, at a small distance some savages, with whom, however, anycommunication was impossible, for they always fled whenever our people offered toapproach them'. 'We saw smoke of native fires some distance apart from each other'.'

During the exploratory coastal expedition Claude Riche wandered away in his quest forbotanical specimens and fresh water. He climbed a hill and camped for the night at a'pink coloured' lake (Pink Lake, official name, Lake Spencer). He was sighted on ashore line hill just as the boat which was sent to look for him was returning to the ship.His sighting of a kangaroo and observation of the footprints of an emu and 'large dog'were recorded in La Billardiere's journal. Cape Riche is named after the FrenchNaturalist. Unfortunately Riche did not live long enough to write about his discoveries.Although the French did not find fresh water on the coast, La Billardiere found a smalltrickle on one of the islands. Aboriginal knowledge of watering places was to proveuseful for future settlers.

The next visitors also came by chance. In 1802 rough weather forced Captain MatthewFlinders' ship, The Investigator, to take shelter in a bay, now known as Lucky Bay.Flinders had been charting the southern coastline. The botanist, Robert Brown,

'Voyage in search of La Perouse. La Billardiere's Journal, 1792.



travelling on the ship, took specimens from Middle Island and what is now Cape LeGrand National Park. The expedition walked as far as a high rocky hill which becameknown as Frenchman's Peak, because of its resemblance to a cocked hat. Anotherrocky outcrop was named Mount Ragged (Rugged) due to its appearance whenFlinders viewed it from his ship.

From the 1820s onwards the Islands of the Archipelago became the destination ofwhalers and seaters from as far away as Tasmania and America who searched thesouthern oceans for their lucrative trade, harpooning whales for meat and the bi-products. Seals were taken for meat and fur. This was the first industry to use theislands and beaches around Esperance. Thousands of seal skins were sent to theEastern States and overseas. The kangaroo was also hunted for meat and skins. Themen took advantage of the mainland Aboriginal women, forcing them to reside on theislands. Some Aboriginal women may have been brought from the scalers' camp on theislands around Tasmania.

One visitor and settler on Middle Island was John Anderson, (nicknamed Black Jack)who has a legend of piracy. The remains of a stone house and well on the island areattributed to him and the house was used in later times. He was a formidable man whocarried a brace of pistols, threatening and stealing from those with whom he came incontact. In 1835, along with Isaac Winterbourne, he was charged with stealing moneybelonging to James Manning, a sealer working with Anderson, and James Newell, whohad been shipwrecked at Thistle Cove.

Aware of the loss of a local industry to the enterprising Americans and the Easterncolonies, moves were made to establish Western Australian whaling. The FremantleWhaling Company was set up in 1837. It ceased in 1839 as it was running at a loss.

Captain Thomas Sherratt commenced whaling in the 1840s, operating from Albany.Many years later he opened a whaling/fishing processing plant at the Thomas Estuary atCape Arid, using the services of John Thomas's whaling boat at Cheynes Beach. Laterthere was a decline in the use of whale fat for candle making owing to the discovery ofoil and the introduction of kerosene lamps.

Edward John Eyre, along with his Aboriginal companion Wylie, were the nextexplorers of the Esperance area, having travelled overland from Adelaide. In 1841 theymet Captain Rossiter of the 'Mississipi' at a bay now named Rossiter Bay.

Further exploration of the region from Cape Riche to Russell Range was made in 1848by the Surveyor-General, Lieutenant James Septimus Roe and his party. They took anAboriginal guide with them known as Bob. Roe was looking specifically for coaldeposits. He was responsible for naming Mount Ridley, Peak Charles and PeakEleanora. Mt Ney was named after one of their horses which was lost and then found.This expedition also visited Mt Ragged, situated about twenty five miles west north-west of Israelite Bay which had been described by Captain Matthew Flinders.

Other sites named by Roe included Howick Hill, Mount Hawes and Mount Merivale,the latter named after one of the Under Secretaries of State for the Colonies. Hefurther named rivers, Gage River, Stokes Inlet, Lort River, Young River, Fitzgerald



Photograph 1: Remains of a drystone fireplace on Middle Island, used by whalers andseaters, built c 1835.


SHIRE OF ESPERANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY -THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 4

----.-

Photograph 1: The waters off Middle Island are the last resting place of the wreckedsteamer, the Penguin (1920).



River, Phillips River, Cuiham Inlet, the last two named after 'Squire' Phillips of'Cuiham', Toodyay. 2 Roe reported unfavourably on the region as being suitable forsettlement.

In April 1863, the Dempster brothers, Edward and William, along with Lanarch andGeorge Maxwell, sailed from Albany and landed at Point Malcolm. Maxwell went backto Albany but the rest of the party continued to Esperance Bay. Andrew settled in atEsperance Bay, reporting favourably on the condition of his 500 head of stock whichhad been shipped from South Australia. By 1868 the sheep stock numbered 5,000. Adry stone well was built by the Dempsters for watering stock. Aboriginal shepherdswere used to keep the livestock together.

In 1870 the Dempsters were visited by John and Alexander Forrest who wereaccompanied by a group including Tommy Windich and Billy Noongale, twoexperienced Aboriginal trackers and guides. At the time of their visit in 1870Mr Campbell Taylor was developing some property on the Oldfield River. Continuingon the Forrests camped at the Mainbenup (Mambenup) homestead of the Dempsters,before calling at Andrew Dempster's house at Esperance Bay. During the Forrest's visita 40 acre homestead site for the Dempsters was surveyed.3

The party followed the known route back to Israelite Bay passing the northern coastalhills through to Cape Arid. Israelite Bay is said to take its name from the Aboriginalpractice of circumcision which Europeans associated with the lost tribes of Israel.

In 1871 Alexander Forrest and a party set out for the interior eastward of the settleddistricts to advance beyond the Hampton Plains. Tommy Windich again accompaniedthe party, and other Aborigines were bribed to join in, as they were needed to help findwatering places. However, on two occasions they ran off during the night.

The expedition was more perilous than the one taken the year before because of newterrain covered, lack of water, and the numerous salt lakes which the members of theexpedition had to find a way around. The party eventually rested at the Dempster'ssmall homestead at Esperance Bay before travelling back to York, via the Arthur Riveracross less difficult country. 'I (Refer to Figure 1 page 6).

2Journal of John Septimus Roe (1848).3Journal of John Forrest (1870).4Journal of Alexander Forrest (1871) extract from Inquirer and Commercial News, Dec 27th, 187 1.


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A small, square, wattle and daub house was built as the first homestead for JamesDempster in 1872. When Andrew decided to make Esperance Bay his home astonemason was employed to extend the house and to build a woolshed using boulderlimestone and a plaster mix using seashells. James supervised construction of the houseand woolshed which were completed in 1876. The house has survived and is presentlythe office of David Wordsworth. The woolshed was demolished in the late 1960s.

By 1872 Campbell Taylor had established 'Lynburn' on the Thomas River. In 1872/3Alexander and John Moir had settled at Fanny Cove while Stephen and WilliamPonton, along with John Sharp, passed through Esperance Bay and settled at PointMalcolm and Pine Hill. The Pontons built a small stone house, which was extended in1889.

The Brooks family settled at Point Malcolm in 1874. Their family had failed in theirdairy venture in Victoria and were attracted by glowing accounts of good grazingcountry in Western Australia. To help financially, their son, John Paul, became alinesman on the telegraph line from 1877 until 1883. As a Government employee hewas forced to relinquish all leases he had taken in the Lake Lefroy region. In 1883John Paul found a water hole and grassy pasture north of Mt Ragged and settled therewith his mother. They named the property Balbinya. His sister, Sarah Theresa,remained at Israelite Bay until the early 1900s. She collected botanical specimens forBaron Von Mueller, the director of Melbourne's Botanical Gardens. Hakea Brooksianaand Scaevola Brooksiana are named after her.5

The construction of the telegraph line from 1875 to 1877 through roadless country wasa great feat. When it reached Esperance in September 1876 the settlers welcomed thelink with the outside world. A repeater station, a small weatherboard building, wasconstructed to house the equipment. The first stationmaster was Mr G P Stevens, a17 year old youth from Toodyay.

The schooner 'Mary Ann' berthed at Esperance with the necessary instruments andbatteries for connecting up the completed line. In 1876 the 'Mary Ann' was wrecked onBellinger Island which became known as the Mary Ann Haven, and is now known asHopetoun. The Telegraph Station was located at Israelite Bay where a substantialstone building was later erected during the upgrade of the line and repeater stations in1895/96.

During the time the line was being brought to Esperance, Tommy Windich became illand was nursed by Mrs Ben Hannett at the Dempster Homestead where he died. Hewas buried by Ben Hannett in coasthills near the camping ground..

Written communication in the Esperance region was limited owing to the infrequencyof ships bringing supplies from Adelaide and Melbourne. Letters to relatives inWestern Australia were often sent via Albany, using the services of the whale boats.Owing to the lack of a jetty, provisions were ferried ashore by small boats. Theposition was improved when a jetty was built in 1895, at James Street. Land travel viacattle tracks, was slow, whether by camel, horse, carriage, cart or bullock wagon.

5 S Brooks. A trip into the Australian Desert. People and Plants in Australia.



Photograph 3: The Dempster Homestead, in Dempster Street. Built in 1876, thisbuilding replaced a wattle and daub house on the property.Photo c 1894.



Photograph 4: Andrew Dempster, the founder of Esperance.


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Photograph 6: A wool press at Lynburn Station, established by Campbell-Taylorin the 1870s.

O'BRLEN PLANNING CONSULTANTS

SHIRE OF E.SPERANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 12

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In the early days of settlement it was left to the station managers to enforce the law.After the death of John Moir in 1878, the first Police Station was set up in 1879.Andrew Dempster had tendered to build the station which was in a similar style to theDempster homestead, using local limestone. Police Constables Truslove and McGladeand Lance Corporal Coppin were appointed.

They arrested an Aboriginal man, Tampin, and sent him to Albany on the cutter 'Lily'.Aboriginal prisoners were chained together and given blankets to cover their nakedbodies. An Aboriginal guard, recruited to look after them, was given a police uniform.In 1880 the Police were involved in a murder charge. The Aboriginal Yungulla wascharged with the murder of John Dunn of Cocanarup Station and sent to Albany fortrial. In 1881 the Police were involved in taking a census of the whole district whichextended from Bremer Bay to Eucla.

In 1889 two teenage boys, Fred and Thomas Andrews from Albany were left on MiddleIsland by their father to farm the salt of the brine lake there. They lived there for ninemonths.

The scattered population did not allow for much interaction. Religious education andstudies were taught by members of private households. Andrew Dempster's childrenwere sent to Adelaide for their education. Mrs Bostock, who came as a bride toEsperance in 1890, taught a non-denominational Sunday School. At this time therewere only six women living at Esperance. Mrs Bostock, Mrs Hannett, Mrs Doust, MrsSinclair, Mrs McGlade and Mrs Truslove, the latter two being the wives of thepolicemen. The only social event was the Annual Shearer's Ball which marked the endof the shearing season.

In 1894 the only town buildings at Esperance Bay were the Telegraph Office, whichalso received mail, the Police Station and Lockup (McGlade and Truslove), Dempster'shouse and woolshed (G H Bostock as Manager), and the houses of Laurie Sinclair andBen Hannet. Farm workers lived in tents and make-do shelters. George Burns Scottwas another pioneer farmer of the 1890s who enjoyed the challenge of establishing aproperty.

An unusual settler was William Vincent who had been sent to the southern coast by hisaristocratic family because of his unacceptable behaviour of keeping company withundesirable women. He lived as a recluse and was identified as a kangaroo hunter.

1890 was a significant year for the Esperance district because in that year gold wasdiscovered in Dundas by Mr Moir. This, along with the subsequent gold finds inCoolgardie/Kalgoorlie, sparked a rush of people to the region and became a catalyst forrapid development in the town of Esperance.



[3. The Period 1892 - 1908 Gold, Population Rises arid Falls

In 1890 William Moir found gold while searching for pastoral country. However, hewas not so fortunate when he returned with Mr Stennet from the Dundas Hills in 1892.It was left to others to find rich reefs. In 1892 the Coolgardie goldfield was declaredopen and in 1893 Hannan discovered gold at Kalgoorlie. The discovery of gold in theKalgoorlie/Coolgardie district instigated a major period of development for Esperance.

In 1894 a local resident, Laurence Sinclair, had been visiting the Coolgardie Goldfields.On his return to Esperance he stopped to visit his brother George and a friend JackAllsop, who were working around the Dundas Hills in search of gold. On 13 August1894 Sinclair and AlIsop lodged their claim after successfully finding gold. On thesame day Ramsay, Talbot, and John Goodliffe discovered gold at nearby 'MountBarker'. Sinclair's find was attributed to his horse pawing the ground and as aconsequence he named the place, Norseman, after his horse.

Travel to the goldfields from Esperance involved many resting places, and Lake View,Gibson's Soak, Scaddan, Grass Patch and Salmon Gums became favourite wateringholes. Gibson's Soak could provide fresh spring water but the rest only providedcondensed water. Wayside Inns were established at Gibson's Soak, Grass Patch andSalmon Gums.

In 1896 John McDonald built a warehouse and shed on Lot 68 Edward Street in thetownsite and applied to set up condensers twenty miles apart for servicing horses,wagons and drays. A cartage service to cart wood to operate the condensers was alsoplanned. Travel was by foot, bicycle, Cobb and Co, wagon, horse, or by camel. Alocal resident reported that four hundred men, having arrived by ship from the easternstates, were camping on the beaches before setting out for the goldfields. With moreships arriving, the treacherous coast and tempestuous seas claimed its victims. In 1894,when the 'Rondondo' foundered, passengers were rescued and eventually taken to PointMalcolm.

The closeness of Esperance to the goldfields revealed the potential to developEsperance as a major port and provide entry for a road to the goldfields. On15 December 1893, the townsite of Esperance was declared under the chairmanship ofG H Bostock of the Dundas and Esperance Roads Board. The townsite was surveyedby R Brazier and Lots 1-42 were established. The Police Station was on Lot 29. On27 September 1895 Esperance was gazetted as a Municipality, with an elected Mayor.The Esperance Roads Board was separate.6

Thomas Edwards, a civil engineer who had arrived in 1893, was elected the Mayor ofEsperance. The municipal meetings were held at the Pier Hotel. Council rates wereone shilling and threepence in the pound with a Health rate of threepence. Contractswere arranged for footpaths and employment of 'the night watchman' to empty the'nightsoil'. Mr H C Sims was the Town Clerk and later formed a company selling townblocks.

6Govemment Gazette WA September 27, 1895. March 13, 1896, March 27. 1896.



The Municipal Offices were built in Andrew Street. The Council Chambers opened inJune 1896 were also used by the Esperance Roads Board for meetings. After 1898 thebuilding was used as a Court House.

The Post and Telegraph Office was commenced in 1895 and the building was inoperation by early 1896. It was a substantial granite building with wide verandahs. Itreplaced the small weatherboard and tin structure which had served as the TelegraphRepeater Station in 1876. A Norfolk Island pine tree (Araucaria heterophylla) wasplanted in front of it. The building was pulled down in the 1960s, but the pine tree hassurvived, growing to a great girth and height. Rows of Norfolk Island pine trees wereplanted over a period of time up until the 1920/30s. These can be seen along theforeshore of The Esplanade and in the parallel street, Dempster Street. Norfolk Islandpine trees have been planted on coastal lands because they provided land marks forships at sea.

The town's residential area was known as East Locations. Some small houses remainbut they have been extensively altered, with attempts at preserving the characteristics ofthe old buildings not always successful.

With the development of the town's business area and the rush to the goldfields,accommodation was available in four hotels, the Pier, the Royal, the Esperance, and theGrace Darling. There were also two boarding houses, Sea View Guest House inEdward Street and the Metropolitan. The building used by Peek and Castine(merchants) was incorporated into the Pier Hotel in 1897.

John Purchas owned the single storey Esperance Store and Hotel, built in 1893. A newtwo-storey hotel was built in 1896, which had 55 beds and included a saloon bar andbilliard room. Purchas may have had prior knowledge of what was to come for he soldout in 1898 to John Coleman, with Chas E Cranston as publican. He moved toRavensthorpe, where he built a hotel.

During the winter/spring of 1897 the Municipal Council planted many trees such as theNorfolk Pines and Moreton Bay Figs A government financed town jetty was finished in1895 and extended in 1896-98. Timber from one of the old jetties has been used for afence erected in 1929 between The Old Hospital and a house situated in DempsterStreet.

A bonded store was built in 1895 and extended in 1896 to 1898 for more goodsstorage. Its usefulness was further fulfilled with the advent of the railway.

With many of the hotels developing into two-storey buildings it was suggested thatthere was a need for a Fire Station. There was talk of ropes hanging from upperstoreys so that people could lower themselves down if a fire occurred. (Two hotelswere later to suffer the fate of being burnt down. The Pier Hotel was burnt down in1910 and the Esperance Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1953).


SHIRE OF ESPFRANCE HERITACE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 16

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Photograph 7: The ruins of the Second Telegraph Station, built in 1895/96.Photo 1983.


SHIRE OF ESPERANCE hERITAGE. INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 17

A Fire Brigade engine, brought on the schooner, Grace Darling, was installed inpremises in Andrew Street in 1898. The Fire Brigade building was between theMunicipal Offices and the Institute building. The building (a hall) was later moved toLots 34 and 35 in Dempster Street. A clock in the Bonded Store of the EsperanceLand Co/Hampton Co was donated to the Esperance Municipal Council for the FireStation tower to be built on Lot 19. With all the moving of the building over the yearsthe clock was taken down and parts of it were disposed of in 1960.

The 'Esperance Chronicle' commenced publication in 1895. In 1896, a rival paper, the'Esperance Times', was set up and both papers published bi-weekly, Wednesdays andSaturdays. The progress of the port of Esperance was widely reported. Esperance wasno longer only for pastoralists. The Dempsters had connections with the Northam andToodyay areas and some of the merchants who came to Esperance were previously inbusiness in those areas. Other merchants arrived from the Eastern states. F J Dawcame from Maitland in South Australia. Many merchants advertised in one or bothpapers.

The discovery of gold at Kalgoorlie/Coolgardie and Norseman was responsible forinflated land prices. The earlier settlers saw the opportunity to make money on the landthey owned. Hannett advised the auctioneer to sell some of his land at the Governmentreserve price of twenty pounds per block. Some town blocks were sold at sixtypounds. In 1897 W F Poole was associated with a plan of the town.

In 1895 Dr E Black was appointed as the Resident Magistrate and Medical Officer ofthe local Board of Health. He dealt with minor criminal offences. Dr Dennis wasappointed as Health Officer in March 1896.

Esperance had been promoted as being a healthy place in which to live but inNovember 1895 a case of typhoid was reported. Charles Henry Staker, a labourer fromSouth Australia, had only been in Esperance for three weeks. He died at the age of 26years and with a registered number three was buried in Plot 20. A second man's deathfrom typhoid followed, that of 34 year old Henry Mauder, a watchmaker fromTorquay, England. The residence in which both men had stayed was pulled down,under instructions from Dr Black. The undertaker for the burials was John Winfield,the local builder. The original cemetery was located on ground which is the presentEsperance Football Club's grounds. (Fourteen graves were dug up in 1897 andremoved to the present cemetery when the original cemetery land was vested to theCricket Association.)

The two deaths gave the impetus for a deputation to Dr Black for consideration of anew hospital. The hospital was to replace the temporary use of a wooden building, theResidency, being used to house the typhoid patients. In March 1896 a deputation oftownspeople asked Dr Black to communicate the need for a hospital to theGovernment. Funds for the hospital were also raised through the giving of a 'grandinstrumental and vocal concert'. Town Lot 202 was made available for the hospitalsite.7

7Government Gazette, WA January 17th, 1896, p.56.



A contract for building the hospital was advertised in May 1896. Dr Black wasinvolved in preparing the plans for the small hospital with additional beds to beprovided at an hour's notice, in two large tents to be fitted on jarrah frameworks. Thesmall hospital was to form the nucleus of a larger hospital on Town Lot 202. WithGovernment money of two hundred pounds and donations of fifty pounds, tenders werecalled. J Winfield was awarded the tender and the hospital was completed in July1896.

In 1896 Edward James McCarthy, the successful manager of the Esperance andAdelaide Land Company, paid the higher land prices being sought in order to build atwo-storey shop and dwelling, a theatre, and another dwelling on the corner of Williamand Dempster Street. The Bijou Theatre opened in September 1896. In October ofthat year Warner's Merry Moments Theatre Company visited Esperance and performersincluded vocalists from England and Sydney and the local pianist, Mr C Jones. Thetheatre was also used as a meeting hall for local discussions and as a hall for theAgriculture Show.

Community activities in 1896 included the Esperance Sports and Entertainment Week.Events consisted of competitive bicycle riding to and from Norseman, children'ssporting events, a Grand Ball, a cricket match against Norseman and New Year's Dayhorse races.

A Tennis Club was formed in 1896 and a tennis court was built in 1897 at the CricketOval. The Cricket Association was operational in 1896 and in the same year theEsperance Bay Turf Club held an Annual General Meeting. Esperance had a footballclub and by 1898 the Esperance Football Association had been formed.

The first police station continued to be manned by Constable Truslove. In 1896Corporal John Thomas McAtee became Sergeant along with the appointment ofConstable Lynch. The Court House came into use (formerly the Council Officesbuilding) where all local cases were heard.

In January 1891 an application was sent to the Board of Education for theestablishment of a school. John Michael Davis was appointed as School Teacher.Parents were informed that no money was available for the building of a school andschoolwork was conducted at the Dempster homestead. In 1894 Mr Bostock, managerof the Dempster estate, informed the Central Board of Education that a man fromAdelaide, a Dr Baker, intended to open a school. The school was conducted in a smallroom on Block 2, owned by Mr F J Daw (now approximately on the site of theNational Bank).

The number of pupils increased and school lessons continued in a larger corrugatediron room (nearer Post Office). Use of this room ceased when the building was sold toMr Sinclair who wanted to set up a private school. Meanwhile approval had beengiven for the building of a school and this was completed by C F Layton for the PublicWorks Department in January 1896 (now RSL headquarters).



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Photograph 8: The Bijou Theatre, a feature of Esperance since 1896. (Photo 1995)



Photograph 9: This building began life as a school in 1896, and was taken overby the Esperance Municipal Council and was shared with theRoads Board until the Municipality was cancelled in 1908.


SHIRE OF ESPFRANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 21

By November 1896 enrolments had risen to 105 and the Department decided to build anew school on the Recreation Ground (Lots 104-110). The new school opened in1897 with Thomas Hart as the first Headmaster. School buildings were non existent inthe outlying areas between Esperance and Norseman as the Malice district only had asparse population until the 1920s. Salmon Gums acquired a school building in 1927from Norseman.

The first Anglican church services held in Esperance in 1896 were conducted by theReverend Alfred Burton in Daws' shop in Andrew Street. A karri framed building, cladwith corrugated iron and lined with matchboard was built and the first service wasconducted in March 1896. The original building was extended in December 1896 and arectory was built with similar materials. The old church was demolished in 1966 afterthe new church was built in 1962. The rectory was demolished in 1995 and has beenreplaced by a new brick and tile Parish Hall. The small church hail on the site wasdemolished in late 1995.

The Wesleyan Church opened in March 1897. This building is now situated in MuseumPark.

For the development of Esperance Bay to occur two essential projects neededconsideration. The first was for the enlargement of port facilities and the second wasthe link by rail to the goldfields, via Norseman.

In 1896 a public meeting was held to discuss the attitude of the Government and theiropposition to the railway from Esperance to Norseman. A second objective was topetition the Government to make an immediate survey of the harbour. In 1897 asurvey was carried out by J W Combe RN, of the 1-IIvIS 'Waterwitch' (Fig 3).

With the growth of the town, earlier buildings came into use for other purposes. TheMechanics Institute (library) requested the use of a building which had been used aspart of a school. The Council Building was used as a Courthouse, the vacatedMechanics Institute's building was used by the magistrate, and the Fire Station buildingwas used as a hall. In 1896 a brewery was added onto the cordial factory which hadbeen erected in 1895. In 1897 the cemetery was re-located.

In May 1898 Sir John Forrest, as Premier, visited Esperance and urged people to votefor Federation. The rush to the goldfields had diminished but there was hope thatEsperance could further develop as a port. This would provide a trade route to andfrom the Eastern states but would need the support of a rail link to the inland areas.Forrest already knew of the proposed line from Coolgardie to Norseman and offered tofind money to upgrade the road from Esperance to Norseman. This suggestion was notmet with approval from the locals.

Those in business saw the downturn coming. Land speculators were angry at losingmoney. Many business proprietors moved to Ravensthorpe, Norseman or Kalgoorlie.Others such as Mayor Burton returned to Adelaide when George Wills & Co decidedto withdraw. The promised rail link from Esperance to Norseman did not eventuate.Even the motion for a private line was dismissed. It is considered that the threat of thedevelopment of a major port on the southern coast would have upset plans for thefuture development of the established port of Fremantle.



Photograph 10: The Wesleyan Church, opened in 1897. Photo 1904.


SHIRE OF ESPERANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY —THEMATIC FRAMEWORK

Page 23

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SHIRE OF ESPERANCF. HERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 24

Photograph 11: Esperance Bay Jetty in 1896.


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The port had the support of those associated with sailing ships and later withsteampships. Captain Fred Douglas and his brother Jim built a substantial stone house,complete with flagpole, in Dempster Street in 1903.

One industry which could continue in this period of recession was the Salt Works.McCarthy had taken a lease on Pink lake (Lake Spencer) and crude salt was taken intothe town for crushing. Around 1900 a shed was built at Pink Lake and the horse-operated works shifted there. Pink packets, of 1 lb weight, were sold for threepence.A lease was taken on the salt lake at Middle Island and Mr and Mrs McKay lived there.McCarthy gave up the salt business in 1907.

After the Esperance townsite had been gazetted in 1893, the Dempsters lost landpreviously used for yarding stock. Sheep and cattle were still in demand so in 1898 theDempster's moved their stock operations to Wheatfield Lake. A new complexcomprising stone cook house and quarters, a large galvanised iron shearing shed, a dip,well, yards and paddocks was set up at Wheatfield.

A syndicate, the London-Esperance Proprietry Co, was interested in developing thearea of Newtown as a port and subsequently a hall was built there. However, thepopulation continued to decline in Esperance.

The Municipality ceased to exist on 30 October 1908, although the Roads Boardremained. Population numbers dropped from 914 in the 1897 census to less than 200hundred by 1908. Some families remained on the historic properties they had foughthard to make successful. The Ponton family and their descendants continued todevelop land in the remote areas.

It became obvious to many remaining Esperance people that alternative work had to befound. This is when agriculture became seriously considered in the Mallee areas.



Photograph 13: The Dempster's woolshed at Wheatfield Lake. Photo 1904.


SHIRE OF ESPERANCE hERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 28

Photograph 14: Bayview, built by Captain Fred Douglas in 1903. Photo 1904.


SHIRE OF ESPF.RANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 29

[4. The Period from 1909 - 1929 Survival I

The area now known as Grass Patch derived its name from the large tracts of opengrass land surrounded by trees on Locations 23, 24, and 25 and North Patch Locations1 and 11. These areas were readily brought into production as no clearing had to bedone and oats could be easily planted in order to provide much needed horse feed.

Grass Patch was bought in 1894 by the Esperance Proprietry Company which was asubsidiary of the Hampton Plains Company. The Company had owned the entire areaof Newtown (Castletown) and had been responsible for building a jetty and tramline tothe goods shed in Esperance, approximatly 2 km away. The company had anticipatedthat Newtown might become the port area and as such was a good investment. Theyalso built a large storage shed of fine oregon timber (Douglas Fir) of great lengths.When it became obvious that Esperance or Newtown would not become a major port,investors turned to farming for security. The shed was transferred to the Grass Patchfarm.

In 1904 George Thompson purchased the Grass Patch farm for £1,300, having heardthat the Esperance Proprietry Company wished to sell up its interests. A German stonemason, Alf Hamdorf was employed to build a stone house of granite rocks. The exNewtown shed was put to good use over the years, for storing a large chaff cutter, andfor storage of grain and hay. Storms took their toll but the timbers were saved andwere used later to restore the homestead.

Other settlers were taking up parcels of land. Mr R J Stewart farmed at Dalyup. Woolwas sent to town and stored in the Dempster woolshed. There was not very muchprogress in the town. The Esperance Bay Pastoral Company owned by the Dempsterswas sold in 1909. The Lake Wheatfield shearing shed was sold to Moir and was finallydismantled in the 1930s.

In 1909 the population was so small that the hospital was closed. In 1910 the hospitalwas taken over by the Board of Health. The local midwife could be called away fromher duties as owner of the Esperance Hotel. The Pier Hotel was destroyed by fire inMarch 1910 and rebuilding commenced in 1911.

The Fresh Air League provided cheap holiday accommodation. Founded in 1910 atAlbany it then moved its headquarters to Bunbury. The League had also arrangedholidays at Esperance, staying in various locations. After the Second World War theywere successful in obtaining a hospital building from the RAAF at Boulder Camp,which had previously been part of a public hospital. The building itself dates from thelate 1920s but like so many buildings of wooden frame construction they were oftenpulled down and rebuilt on other sites. Effie Turner who ran a dairy, sold the land atNewtown to the Fresh Air League for £46.

The Methodist Church was moved in 1912 to a site opposite Angove Street after a landdispute, as Lot 82 was owned by the Government.

lip

The salt industry was continued through McCarthy by persuading the Standard SaltCompany of South Australia to take out a lease on Pink Lake.



Photograph 15: Grass Patch Farm Homestead, built in 1904. (Picture taken beforerenovation in 1983).

Photograph 16: The Salmon Gums Hotel c 1929.


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Photograph 17: Harvesting salt at Pink Lake

Photograph 18: The first salt shed, and the crushing engine.


SHIRE OF ESPF.RANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 32

Photograph 19: Bags of Pink Lake salt. L to R: Ken Synnot, Gertrude Synnotand her father, F J Daw, c 1937

Photograph 20: Loading the salt at the Esperance Jetty.


SHIRE OF ESPERtNCE HERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 33

The salt industry brought some relief from unemployment after the 1914-1918 war butthe industry was wound up in 1924, when it was no longer profitable. Salt was usedextensively by the meat industry, but with refrigeration less salt was needed. However,salt continued to be processed in Esperance until the late 1930s.

In 1911 a bill for the construction of the Norseman-Esperance line was introduced intoparliament but was later rejected. One of the points debated was the supply of water toany future Mallee settlers. A severe drought in 1914/1915 sealed the fate of many ofthose who were willing to get established in Mallee country.

The townsite of Salmon Gums was gazetted officially in 1924 and the Esperance-Salmon Gums railway was enentually completed in 1925. In 1927 the rail link betweenNorseman and Esperance was completed, thus linking Esperance to the goldfields. The'Flyer' became the favourite form of travel for those escaping from the heat of thegoldfields to a breath of fresh air at the coast.

Early in 1927 the parents of children living in the Salmon Gums area became concernedabout inadequate facilities for the education of their children. In December that yearthe Princess Royal Goidmine Primary School was transported from Norseman and re-sited at Salmon Gums. Pupils entered the school early in 1928. Later, additionalclassrooms were added and the school continued until the buildings were no longeradequate. A new school building was opened in 1972. The old school has beenpreserved in Museum Park.

Mr A D Helms, Manager of the Esperance Pine Forests Ltd, planted 500 acres ofpines. This was not a great success, but with the aid of fertilizers he was able todevelop crops of lupins, clovers and peas. There were others who were still optimisticabout the potential of the Mallee district.

In 1926 a new weatherboard lockup was built near the old police station. Theconstable in charge was O'Connor, and the station was under the control of InspectorSpedding-Smith with headquarters at Kalgoorlie. The Sergeant's quarters have beenre-constructed at Museum Park.

There was now the need for a properly run hospital in Esperance. Discussions wereheld and plans drawn up between 1927 and 1929 for a new building. Meanwhile theWellard Hospital at the Peel Inlet settlement was no longer needed owing to the failureof the returned soldier settlement scheme and the Depression. Negotiations resulted inthe building being resited in Esperance and the hospital was opened in January 1930.

In the 1920s shortages of materials and money saw many instances of recycling ofbuildings. Although Sinclair's house of the 1920s is preserved in Museum Park as ahouse of that period, the main structure of four rooms came from an earlier house inWilliam Street and the pine panelling belongs to the 1890s-1900s. The old hospitalwas purchased by Mr W Baird for 77 guineas in 1929, and was re-located to a block heowned in William Street.

Despite the hardships there was still enjoyment to be had at the Bijou Theatre. In 1929the first 'talkie' film to be shown was entitled 'Domestic Troubles'.


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Photograph 22: At the opening of the Grass Patch Store in 1927.



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Photograph 23: A visit to Gibson Soak Hotel by Premier Scaddan (central figure inphotograph) in 1915.



The Wall Street crash in 1929 was felt all over the world and in Esperance the shippingtrade fell dramatically. Before the crash, blocks of land had been bought in thetownsite but when the rates were not paid, the Roads Board offered the blocks at thevalue of the unpaid rates. According to Vince Daw some blocks were offered at 416d

and were bought by Kalgoorlie investors who often bought up a whole street. TheDaw family store operated on credit, picking up trade when the holiday season began.Some farming families were left destitute, with undernourished children succumbing toBarcoo Rot because they were living solely on wheat and tinned bully beef. TheGovernment made the decision to underwrite the enormous debt of soldier settlers whohad 'not made it' and who owed money to the Banks.

All these factors contributed to a decline in development. The Esperance district wasonce again forced to struggle for survival.


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Photograph 25: The War Memorial, built c 1924.



[s. The Penod 193 - 1949 J3epresswn and Second World War

Recovery from the Depression was slow and it took some time for the locals to achievea reasonable standard of living and fill employment. Mr B Gurney recalls that therewas much exchanging of produce with no money changing hands. Those who couldnot make it were forced off the land. Rabbits, which had reached plague proportionsdespite the rabbit proof fence, were easily caught in nets or shot individually, providinga cheap source of food. The skins and fur were used for hat making.

The Saltworks at Pink Lake continued to supply some employment. The townsupported a flour mill, ice works, cordial factory, market gardens, dairy, three hotels,boarding houses, cafes, bakeries, radio repair shop, garage. It was not unusual forpeople to have two jobs. Farmers owned butchers' shops, undertakers were plumbersby day, picture theatre operators were auctioneers and wharfies. The town had toguarantee wharfies to ensure shipping came to Esperance.

The Eastern Goldfields Fresh Air League provided cheap accommodation for visitors attheir beachfront premises which had been operating since 1910. The Camping Groundwas used for summer vacations and in winter the overflow drain provided facilities forcanoeing. T Thick operated pleasure cruises.

In 1934/3 5 the Esperance Jetty was built, opening in 1935. It owed its existence to theneed for servicing the Mallee hinterland and later in 1937 the Lake View fuel tank. TheEsperance Aerodrome was also established at this time.

In 1937 a pastoral lease was obtained over Middle Island by Alexander Chisholm. Theyearly rent was L1.0.0. It was forfeited in 1958.

In 1938 there were only 40 pupils at Esperance State School with two teachers,Miss Hutchinson for the infants and Mr John Rintoul as Head Teacher for the seniorpupils. Many children of well-to-do families were sent away to private boardingschools in Perth. There were a number of small schools in the district - 3 at GrassPatch and others at East Circle Valley, East Dowak, Kumarl, Red Lake, Truslove andSalmon Gums. A school was also set up in West Scaddan.

The advent of the Second World War was a catalyst for change in the EsperanceRegion. A major change to the quiet life of Esperance was the loss of young men tothe war effort and the billeting of American troops in the town when some Catalinaflying boats were re-serviced. At one stage the racecourse was used as an Americanarmy camp. The HIVIIAS Kalgoorlie also made a visit. The children made V forVictory signs and dug trenches in the middle of the oval in anticipation of an attack bythe enemy. Seven men from the Starcevich family of Grass Patch went to the war andTom Starcevich received the Victoria Cross for bravery. The Esperance Branch of theCountry Womens' Association helped the war effort, along with the Red CrossAssociation and a Voluntary Defence Corps.

World War II in 1939 brought new technology to the country areas. Mechanization offarm equipment led to the replacement of the horse and dray. Tractors and bulldozerswere able to clear land.


SHIRE OF ESPERANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY - ThEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 41

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Photograph 26: Central Esperance in the 1950s.

O'BRllN PLANNING CONSULTANTS

SHIRE OF FSPFRANCE HERITAGE INVENTORY - THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Page 42

The Bijou Picture Theatre continued to provide some relief from troubled times. In1947 a Memorial Grove was planted above Second Beach (Blue Haven). Each treewas dedicated to the memory of service personnel who died in service during WWII.Plaques identifying the fallen were placed near the appropriate trees.

The effects of the Depression and WWII in Australia are well documented. Esperance'slimited growth during this period mirrors the fairly similar experience of a strugglingnation. The optimistic post WWTI period was therefore a welcome relief from thedifficulties and inactivity that marked the decades from 1930-50.

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Photograph 27: The New Tanker Jetty, opened in 1935.



6..The Penod f''rom____1950- 1979 lloder,i Pioneers

Over a period of fifty years there had been no noticeable growth in the population ofEsperance or the construction of any civic buildings. The population was estimated atbetween 200 and 300. Most of the houses were of pre-1940s construction, or weresimple three or four-roomed houses using wooden frames, tin walls and roof, and laterasbestos fibro sheets. The roof lines often had a gabled end which were simpler toconstruct than hip roofs. Many older homes were transported from the goldfields asholiday homes when they were no longer needed. Low repayment War Service homeloans were available for modest houses.

In 1952 children from outlying districts were taken to school by the local taxi, anF J Holden travelling the twenty five miles over gravel roads. By the 1960s a schoolbus brought children to school from districts such as Lort River and from other areaswhich were not serviced by a local school.

The Esperance Downs Research Station was established in 1949. A research stationwas also established at Salmon Gums. Mr B Gurney recalls that a lack of traceelements in the soil was discovered when it was noticed that the grass grew longer andgreener around the telegraph poles. Here pieces of copper wire covered with zinc hadbeen lying on the ground when the telegraph line had been put through fifty yearsbefore. Local farmers took an interest in the research findings but complained that theyneeded finds to finance such operations. Funds were made available to them but theywere still considered inadequate.

Guided by the research findings of Dr T C Dunne and Mr F L Shier which werepresented in a written report (1956) by the Esperance Downs Development AdvisoryCommittee, American interest was shown in developing the large tracts of landpreviously thought unsuitable for crop growing. An American, Mr Alan Chase, wasvisiting the Northern Territory to close down a rice growing project and wasintroduced to Mr Wise, a former Premier of Western Australia and Minister for Landsand Agriculture. Wise suggested the Chase Syndicate might be interested in thedevelopment of the coastal plain at Esperance.

The Chase Syndicate, through the WA Government, formed the Esperance Plains(Australia) Pty Ltd. The Government made available 150,000 acres of land at fourshillings an acre for the company to clear blocks, available for lease or with an optionto buy. Enormous clearing equipment was introduced to take on this task. Americanmovie stars including Art Linkletter, Randy Gault and Robert Cummings madeinvestments with the Chase Syndicate. A film starring Robert Cummings was shown atthe Bijou Theatre.

With the rush for blocks, complaints were made that the land was not well prepared.As a result the WA Government made available smaller Conditional Purchase landblocks for private sale. The larger American owned farms were run by managers. Thesmaller farms were taken up by Eastern States residents who travelled over theNullabor Plain with all their possessions loaded onto trucks and vehicles and in somecases this included a tractor. Homes were tin sheds until a start could be made on ahouse. Permanent houses were only built after all the initial hard work of growing



crops, harvesting, and a return on the investment became evident. The great promiseof good crops all round was not to be. At the end of 1957 many crops failed owing tounseasonal weather conditons. This was enough for the American interest towithdraw. Some properties were not affected and 500 farms were established in theEsperance Plains district and in the Mallee district.

The road to Kalgoorlie was still unsealed, the Nullabor was a dirt track with dustbowls, and the road to Ravensthorpe was a track over the sand plain. A car of somesort was essential and was often purchased before the building of a house.

Following the increase in farming came other outlets. The Co-operative Bulk Handlingwas established in Brazier Street. In 1964 the Esperance Fertilizer Works opened.

With the increased interest in Esperance as the centre of a farming district the centraltown blocks of land became more valuable. Historical small buildings were pulleddown in the move towards 'being modern'. The Daw family home had been moved in1947 to its present site on the corner of William Street and The Esplanade and in 1960the space was utilized to make the Daw Store larger to accommodate the needs of the'new chums'. The term 't'othersiders' had been used in the newspaper of 1929, but itstill applied in 1959 with most of the new settlers coming from the Eastern States. The'new chums' included migrants from the European countries.

The principal for the Esperance school in 1959 was Doug Jecks who stayed for fouryears. The old school built of limestone had been gutted, but what remained wasdismantled during this period (1962-63) to enable development of new classrooms.The school house at this time was next to the power station. Esperance PrimarySchool was to move towards the status of a Junior High School and by 1966 Esperancehad grown enough to support a Senior High School.

The 1960s was a period of great expansion and memorable events. New buildings,clubs, associations and services in the Esperance district were established. In 1960 thenew Catholic Church,'Our Lady Star of the Sea,' was built. A new Hospital wasready in 1960 and the new Church of England, St Andrew's, was built. The EsperanceBay Yacht Club was formed while the Bowling Club was established with newpremises. The first Esperance Shire Offices were built and were later demolished in1991. A new Courthouse was built in Dempster Street and opened in 1967. TheSeventh Day Adventist Church was completed in 1969. A Drive-In Theatrecommenced in 1965, putting an end to the picture theatre entertainment enjoyed bymany at the Bijou Theatre.

1964 was the Centenary year for Esperance and the Queen Mother visited Esperanceby plane in March 1965. The local newspaper, The Esperance Express, operated from1965 until its closure in 1974. In 1968 a private airstrip was opened while a newpower station was built by the State Energy Commission in 1970. A land-backedwharf was built, with a second berth finished in 1972. The Post Office was replaced bya modern building in 1971. A Seafarer's Centre, opened in 1971, was home to thoseseeking help and accommodation. In 1974 the standard guage railway line fromKalgoorlie to Esperance was completed, in the same year that TV broadcasts from theABC began.



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At the beginning of 1971 the enrolment at Esperance Primary School was 732 pupilsand the school was understaffed. Over the previous ten years, with the increase inpopulation, classes had been held in the Anglican Parish hall opposite the school. TheResidency next to the old Post Office was used periodically as a school. There hadbeen a turnover of headmasters, seven in eight years, with many of them moving rapidlyup the senior ranks after they had fulfilled the necessary country 'duty'. It was left toMr Frank Bell, as Headmaster and Acting Superintendent, to draw up the necessaryplans for a new school at Nulsen. When the second Esperance school was demolishedto make way for a new building, the Headmaster's house was also destined fordemolition but was saved and placed in Museum Park.

The Arts and Care for the Environment appear to have been the major themes of the1970s. In 1971 the new Library opened, shifting from what had formerly been the oldCouncil Buildings. In the same year the Historical Society was formed. In 1972 theWildflower Society was formed, recognising the unique flora in the district. Also in1972 the Esperance Arts Council was formed. They supported the Esperance 'Bay ofIsles' Festival which began in 1972. In the following year a foreshore committee wasestablished with the aim of protecting the integrity of the foreshore. This year includedthe organisation of the first Esperance summer School. The Summer School, whichenabled citizens to be taught a range of arts and crafts, was held in the Old Cannery, theformer fish processing factory.

In 1979 Esperance hit the news with the fall out from the American Skylab whichpassed over Western Australia. Parts of the Skylab are displayed in the EsperanceMuseum which opened in 1976, utilising the Railway Goods Shed, formerly theBonded Store and Customs Office of 1896.

The growth of Esperance from 1950 to 1979 was remarkable. Increased communityspirit and an enlarged economic base have allowed Esperance to enter the modern erawith a wide array of businesses, industries, community services and activities.



Photograph 29: The Sinclair House of the 1920s, preserved in Museum Park.

Photograph 30: Elston's Bazaar and Stationery Shop, built in 1896, is now in MuseumPark after being a chemist shop for a number of years. Formerly onLot 21 Andrew St.


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[MUSEUM PARK AND VILLAGE 1. Tourist Bureau - 7. Sinclair House2. Salmon Gums School S. Historic Methodist Church5. Hospilal Matron's Residence it. Old Courthouse I,,4. Police Sergeants Quarters 10. Chemist Shop5. School Master's Residence ii. Doctor's Surgery ) ' I 11-

- 13. Blacksmith 12. Railway Booking Office -

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FIGURE 4: Map showing the layout of Museum Park.


ThePeisod 1980-1995 Progress

By 1980 the population had increased to 7,200, with urban figures at 5,000 and rural at2,200. Esperance had become popular as a tourist resort and holiday accommodationwas increased with the building of motels and caravan parks. Tours of the bay wereprovided by a local enterprise while the Tanker Jetty became popular for recreationalfishing. Agriculture still remained a major factor and many profited, pouring wealthinto the town through the acquisition of land, homes, rentals and businesses. TheCo-operative Bulk Handling facilities were upgraded and improved in 1985.

In 1981 the Civic Centre was opened to provide an accoustically sensitive building forconcerts and entertainment.

In 1983 the Esperance Boat Harbour was opened at Bandy Creek and in 1984 the PortAuthority administrative building was operational. 1986 saw a new shopping complex,The Boulevard, extending trading facilities and a new motel, The Bay of Isles, was tocater for a wider selection of the tourist trade. A new racecourse was also establishedduring this period.

The Salmon Beach Wind Farm was established in 1987 and the Ten Mile Lagoon WindFarm followed in 1993. The latter is considered to be a world leader in terms ofcapacity factor.

In 1991 a new Shire Office building was built on the site of the old one, with large,curved glass windows providing views over the bay.

In 1992 The Old Hospital was restored to become part of a small motel complex. TheBijou Theatre has been restored and the company's productions continue to beenjoyed.

In 1993 a Catholic school was built and the area of West Beach was taken up for newhomes. Blocks at Castletown were made available for new homes and, as these weretaken up, new subdivisions were created around the lake areas.

Consideration has been given to housing the elderly and providing services for themthrough Meals on Wheels and retirement homes. In 1982 the Masonic RetirementVillage was built following on after the Star of the Sea and Alchera Homes for theAged. A nursing home was built in 1991.

The environmental awareness of the Esperance people is reflected in the many projectsattempted to protect the natural attributes of the region. The National Parks, Cape LeGrand and Cape Arid are examples of the natural environment of the Southern Coast.Of the 76 islands in the Recherche Archipelago, eight islands are in Esperance Bay,among them Wood, Cull, Lion, Black and Boxer Islands. These islands are protected.In 1992 a revegetation project to combat salinity and land degradation was initiated.The Esperance Shire as a result of this initiative received the John Tonkin GreeningAward in the same year.


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Photograph 32: The Esperance Shire Council Administration Centre, built in 1991.

Photograph 33: The Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm, west of Esperance. Erected in 1994.



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Photograph 34: The Norfolk Island Pine Trees, so characteristic of Esperance.The first trees were planted in 1896.



In 1994 iron ore was railed down from Koolyanobbing for export, despite protestsfrom local groups concerning its effect on the town's residents and the tourist industrythrough noise and dust pollution.

The town's population (1995) is now approximately 12,000, having doubled since1966. New buildings planned are the Lotteries House for community care, MuseumPark Soundshell and extensions to the Civic Centre to provide facilities for communityuse.

Esperance has already demonstrated an appreciation of its rich history. Sidewalkplaques mark the location of historical stores and businesses long gone. The majesticNorfolk Pine trees have been carefully tended over the years. The district's pioneers,the Dempsters, are remembered by the fountain in Dempster Street as well as by thecontinued existence of the original homestead which has been carefully restored underprivate ownership. It is a tribute to the people of the Shire of Esperance that thepioneering spirit continues to be reflected so strongly throughout the region.

The Municipal Heritage Inventory prepared in 1995-96 will help to establishEsperance' s part in the documentation of Western Australia's pioneer development andits relationship to the National Heritage.


Page 54SHIRE OF ESPERANCE THEMATIC FRAMEWORK MATRIX

PERIOD 1792-1891 1892-1908 1909-1929 1930-1949 1950-1979 1976-1996THEME! EXPLORATION AND GOLD, POPULATION RISES SURVIVAL DEPRESSION AND MODERN PIONEERS PROGRESS

SUBTHEMESETTLEMENT AND PALLS WORLD WARE

1. DEMOGRAPHIC 1792 FRENCH EXPLORERS IN SHIPS 1892-94 SINCLAIR, ALLSOP, MOIR, GOLD RUSH FINISHES; NO FARMS ABANDONED, 1956 CHASE SYNDICATE; NEW 1980 POPULATION 7,300LA RECHERCHE, LESPERANCE; RAMSAY, TALBOT. 000DLIFFE - RAILWAY FROM GOLDFIELDS; PIONEER HOMESTEADS PIONEERS - FROM EASTERN (TOWN 5,000, RURAL 2,300);

SETTLEMENT 1802 FLINDERS, THE INVESTIGATOR; GOLD CLAIMS; 1893 TOWNSITE RESETFLEMENT/SOLDIERS; NEGLECTED; SHORTAGE OF STATES, 0/SEAS AND 1995 POPULATION 15,000,;

AND MOBILITY 1835 JOHN ANDERSON (BLACK JACK) OF ESPERANCE DECLARED; BANK REPAYMENT MATERIALS, TIN TAKEN OFF RETURNED SOLDIERS; SMALL TOURISM INDUSTRY; LOCALITIESSTAYED MIDDLE ISLAND; 1895 ESP GAZETFED AS DIFFICULTIES; FAILURE OF BUILDINGS, FALL INTO LAND HOLDINGS, LAND GAZETFED

Why people settled 1840 THOMAS SHERRATF, WHALING; MUNICIPALITY; HOMESTEADS OF FARMS; FAILURE OF DISREPAIR; RECYCLING OF CLEARED BY SYNDICATES;

Why they moved away 1841 JOHN EYRE, EXPLORER: EARLY SETTLERS; WAYSIDE INNS; BUSINESSES OLD BUILDINGS; DISTRICTS TOWNSHIPS ESTABLISHED IN1848 J S ROE, EXPLORER/SURVEYOR; SHOPS; 1908 MUNICIPALITY SURROUNDING ESPERANCE ESPERANCE AREA

The things they left behind 1863 DEMPSTERS, LANARDS, COBURN- ABOLISHED; SETTLEMENTS PROVIDE SUPPORT;CAMPBELL, LAND LEASES; BETWEEN NORSEMAN AND EDUCATION NEEDS; MEN GOSub theme(s) 1870 CAMPBELL-TAYLOR, LAND ESPERANCE; TO WAR; SERVICEMEN INLEASE; 1870 . 71 ALEX AND JOHN AND OUT OF PORTFORREST, EXPLORERS

2. TRANSPORT AND SAILING SHIPS (SCHOONERS, SAILING AND STEAMSHIPS FROM 1913 WIRELESS STATION 1934/35 TANKER JETTY BUILT - 1962 BUS/COACH TRANSPORT; AIRPORT UPGRADE;CUTTERS), WHALEBOATS; ADELAIDE; COBB & CO; CAMEL OPENED; MECHANIZATION - OIL TO GOLDFIELDS; 1965 TELEPHONE EXCHANGE; RECREATIONAL FISHING -

COMMUNICATIONS 1876 EASTIWESTTELEGRAPH LINE; TRAINS; BULLOCK & WAGON; 1925 RAILWAY SALMON GUMS AERODROME DEVELOPED; 1968 AIRPORT DEVELOPED; TANKER JETI'Y; BANDY CREEK

How people and goods MAIL BY WHALEBOATS; CAMEL HORSE, DRAYS, CARTS; TO ESP; 1927 SALMON GUMS RADIO; TELEPHONE, 1968 PORT AUTHORITY; HARBOUR; COLOUR TV

TRAIN; STOCK ROUTES; BICYCLES, WALKING; 1895 POST TO NORSEMAN; SHIPPING COMMUNICATION INCREASED 1971 LAND BACKED WHARF;moved 1876 DEMPSTERS BUILT JETTY & TELEGRAPH OFFICE; DECLINES; TELEPHONES; TRACTORS REPLACE HORSES; 1974 STANDARD GUAGE

How people communicated NEWSPAPERS; SOCIAL CARS, TRUCKS INTRODUCED RAILWAY; 1965-1974 LOCALGATHERINGS HOTELS; WAYSIDE NEWSPAPER; TV

and exchanged information INNS AT GRASS PATCH, GIBSONSSOAK, SALMON GUMS;Sub theme(s) 1894 JETTY AT NEWFOWN;1895 ESPERANCE JETTY -EXTENDED 1896/98

3. OCCUPATIONS EXPLORERS, NAVIGATORS, PASTORALISTS; KANGAROO AGRICULTURE; SHEEP AND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, FERTILISER WORKS; SMALL ENTERPRISES; TOURISM

BOTANISTS; SEALERS AND WHALERS; SHOOTERS; MARKET GARDENS, CATFLE; ORCHARDS; ESPER ESPER DOWNS RESEARCH ABBATFOIRS; GRAIN MOTELS/ACCOMMODATION;What people did for SALE OF BI-PRODUCTS, SKINS/MEAT; ORCHARDS; BUILT CONDENSORS; PROVIDED SUMMERTIME STATION; EXPERIMENTAL HANDLING; CO-OP FISHING; FARMING- PRODUCE;

sustenance or to add KANGAROO HUNTING; STATION CUT WOOD; RESIDENT HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION; CROP -ADDING TRACE SALT PROCESSING; TOURISM WINE MAKING;MANAGERS, SHEPHERDS, SHEARERS, MAGISTRATE; MEDICAL OFFICER RAILWAY STAFF/WORKERS; ELEMENTS, AGRIC DEPT PROMOTED 1993/1995 WIND FARM

quality to life; paid and COOKS; POLICE; TELEGRAPH /DOCTOR; 1895-98 BONDED GENERAL STORES; GARAGES -OFFICER STORE, 1893-97 FOUR HOTELS - MECHANICS; WATERSIDE,

unpaid labour PIER, ROYAL, ESPERANCE, GRACE ROAD AND SALT WORKERS;

Sub theme(s) DARLING; RESTAURANTEURS; FISHERMEN (PART TIME)HOTELIERS & BOARDING HOUSEPROPRIETORS; BLACKSMITHS,MERCHANTS, BANKERS,BROKERS, REAL ESTATE; LANDSALESMEN; BREWERS;PHOTOGRAPHER; TEACHERS;SALT FARMING;NURSES/MIDWIFE

4.COMMUNITY LAW AND ORDER BY SETTLERS; CHURCHES - ANGLICAN & HOSPITAL CLOSES

BUT CWA; RSL; RED CROSS; RSL HALL; HIGH SCHOOL; CIVIC CENTRE FOR

1879 POLICE STATION SET UP, WESLEYAN; SCHOOL; 1896 BIJOU REOPENS WITH HOSPITAL FUNDRMSING CHURCHES; CWA HALL; ENTERTAINMENT; AGED

EFFORTS 1881 CENSUS OF THE DISTRICT; THEATRE, FIRST HOSPITAL, FIRST BROUGHT FROM WELLARD - MUSEUM; NEW LIBRARY, PEOPLES HOMES; CANNERY AS

What people did together HOME STUDIES, RELIGION, SCHOOL; FIRS BRIGADE; FAILED SETTLEMENT AT PEEL NEW HOSPITAL; I960S NEW ART CENTRE; NEW SHIREEDUCATION; SHEARERS BALL HELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; INLET (1929); SPORTS CLUBS SCHOOLS, SHIRE OFFICE; COUNCIL OFFICES 1990;

as a community,'the issues ANNUALLY. PLANTED PINES; SPORTS - TENNIS, CONTINUE; RED CROSS DRIVE-IN THEATRE; GOLF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

that divided them; the FOOTBALL, CRICKET, BICYCLE SUPPORT, FIRST WORLD WAR CLUBS; SQUASH COURTS;RACING, HORSE RACING; MOVIE THEATRE AT BIJOU BOWLING CLUB;

structures they created to ESPERANCE SHOW; TWO THEATRE

serve civic needs NEWSPAPERS; TWO CEMETERIES

Sub theme(s)5. OUTSIDE INFLUENCES: ABORIGINAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOLD DISCOVERED AT LOW PRICES; MEN DIED IN FIRES; DEPRESSION; WWII SNAKE PLAGUE; OUTCOMES FLUCTUATING ECONOMY;

WATERING PLACES; NORSEMAN, COOLGARDIE, WWI LOSS OF LABOUR; OF CHASE SYNDICATE RETIREES FROM GOLDFIELDSEvents, decisions or changes SEALERS/WHALERS/ABORIGINAL KALGOORLIE; GOLD RUSH OVER - DROUGHT. RABBIT PLAGUE; ARRIVING AND LEAVING REQUIRE HOMES - BOOM IN

which affected the community, WOMEN; FRENCH NAMES FOR DECLINE, POPULATION STOCK EXCHANGE FAILURE, BUILDING

PLACES; 1890 GOLD DISCOVERED IN DECREASES, PEOPLE MOVE WALL STREET EFFECTSbut were beyond its control DUNDAS REGION AWAY, HOTELS AND SHOPS FLOWED ON; DEPRESSION

CLOSE; NEWSPAPERSSub theme(s) FOLD/FINISH; RAILWAY NOTFORTHCOMING - NODEVELOPMENT FOR THE PORT I


MUNICIPAL HERITAGE INVENTORIES

THEMES, SUBTHEMES AND SITE TYPES

1. Demographic settlement and mobilityWhy people settled; why they moved away, the things they left behind

SUBTHEME SITE TYPE

Exploration and surveying landing places of early explorersexploration routescamp sites and graves of explorers

Aboriginal occupation/racial contact meeting sites, other sites of significance

Land allocation and subdivision areas reflecting early land grant andsubdivision patterns

Workers (Aboriginal, convict, early settlements and stationsindentured) convict hiring stations, prisons, worker

housing

Settlements (including group, soldier, sites associated with government orAboriginal after 1829) corporate ventures and schemes;

abandoned settlements, their sites andremnants, including gardens, introducedtrees and other plants;lonely graves and cemeteries

Immigration, emigration and refugees sites associated with particular immigrantgroups, quarantine/custom stations(human and animal)migrant camps, detention camps

Resource exploitation and depletion mine and processing sites

Depression and boom sites of successful and failed enterprises

Technology and technological change places demonstrating important buildingstyles and phases

Environmental change (degradation and sites associated with drought andconservation) rehabilitation



THEMES, SUBTILIMIES AND SITE TYPES

2. Transport and communicationsHow people and goods moved; how people communicated and exchangedinformation

SUBTHEME SITE TYPE

River and sea transport wreck sites, rescue sites) shipyards, jettiesand wharfs, lighthouses, beacons

Road transport roads, bridges, service stations, tracksand trails, inns and coach stops.

Rail and light rail transport stations and sidingsrights of way and cuttingsfuel and watering pointsworkshops, bridges, signal boxes

Droving stock and watering holes

Mail services post offices, hollow trees and sitesassociated with mail services, formal andinformal

Newspapers printing works, news stands

Telecommunications cable stations, telegraph stationsradio, television, radartransmitter/receiver facilitiestelephone exchanges, RFDS bases

Technology and technological change sites demonstrating innovation,technological excellence or adaptationsto local conditions

Air transport airstrips, terminals, hangars




3. OccupationsWhat people didfor sustenance or to add quality to life; paid and unpaidlabour

SUBTHEME SITE TYPE

Grazing, pastoralism, dairying homesteads, shearing shedsstockmens and shearers quartersoutcamps, stockyardsstock routes and watering holesdairies, milk processing plantsplaces demonstrating the contributions ofAboriginal people

Rural industries, market gardens, and small gardens, packing sheds, cellars and otheranimal farming storage facilities, trees from old orchards,

barns, wheat bins, mills

Timber forest camps, towns, mills

Prospecting, mining, quarrying and mineral mining and quarrying sites, clay pits, limeprocessing kilns, brick kilns

Domestic activities places demonstrating the contributions ofwomen and childrenplaces demonstrating the conditions underwhich prople worked

Intellectual acitivities, arts and crafts places with indigenous building stylesplaces demonstrating important buildingstyles and phasesgalleries, studios and workshops

Commercial and service industries banks, markets, shops

Technology and technological change sites demonstratiing innovative use of localmaterialsplaces demonstrating, or associated with,important technological developments

Commercial and service industries banks, markets, shops, insurance

Manufacturing and processing factories, abattoirs

Hospitality industries and tourism hotels, theme parks, tearooms



THEMES, SUBT1LFMES AND SITE TYPES

4. Social and civic activities:What people did together as a community; the issuesthat divided them; the structures they created to serve civic needs

SUBTHEME SITE TYPE

Government, local government and politics town and roads board hallsgovernment departments

Education and science schools, colleges, universities, researchstations

Law and order police stations, courts, prisons andinternment camps

Community services and utilities Fire stations, cemeteries, hospitals andnursing stations, RFDSwater supply (dams, catchmentspumphouses, pipelines)electricity (generating stations, transformerand switchyards, public lighting)gas (gasometers, pipelines, public lighting)sewerage and drainage (drains, pipelines,treatment plants)

Sport, recreation and entertainment swimming pools, sporting groundscommunity halls, hotels, taverns, cinemas,sporting clubhouses, bowling greens, golfcourses, racing tracks

Religion Religious establishments, places of worship,schools and convents

Cultural activities theatres/halls, art galleries, museums

Institutions RSL, masonic and other group halls,orphanages, hostels, CWA halls, hostels

Environmental awareness Communes, alternative farms




5. Outside influencesEvents, decisions or changes which affected the community, but were beyondits control

SUBTHEME SITE TYPE

World Wars and other wars barracks, prison and internment camps,camp sites, military communicationssites, munition dumps and factories, warmemorials, memorial gardens,cemeteries, drill halls

Refugees refugee camps

Depression and boom sites reflecting boom timessites reflecting depression timessites associated with employmentschemes

Natural disasters sites demonstrating or commemoratingthe effects of cyclones, floods

Markets

Tourism

Water, power and major transport routes pipelines, power linesnational road and rail routes



THEMES, SUBTHEMES AND SITES

6. PeopleWomen and men from all walks of life who left their mark on the history ofthe community

SUBTHEME SITE TYPE

Aboriginal people (before and after1829)

Early settlers

Local heroes and battlers homes or workplaces of notable longterm residentssites associated with people who becamefamous (or infamous) beyond thecommunitysites associated with infamy

Innovators


Page 61

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HISTORY RESO URCES

Compiled by Cathy Day and Dawn GrieveHeritage Consultants for O'Brien Planning Consultants

(This bibliography is a practical aid to assisting further research - and not an academicdocument).

All items can be found in the Battye Library.

References marked * have been used in our research for the historical framework.

PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIAL

1972 copies of letters re date on which D'Entrecasteaux anchored in Esperance Bay. (3 & 2p).2260A

*Banquet for Sir John Forrest 6 May 1898 menu and toast list. (4p)PR 3514

Bostock, George H.Esperance Bay Station. Papers (1862-1944).1033A1229A2641A2932A

Bow, Frederick, W.My Life Story 1871-1954 (54p)*PR 1092/1

Chape, S.Esperance District Coastal Managaement Plan. 1983 (79p)Q333,917 CHA

Climatological Survey of Esperance Region Melbourne, 1955 (13p)Q551.6

Commercial broadcasting station licence grant inquiry (44p) 1981Q3 84.5453 .AUS

Craig, G.F.Esperance Eastern Coast Planning & Management Report. Perth: WA Dept of Conservationand Environment, 1984 (54p)Q333.784 CRA


Page 62

D'Entrecasteaux A.R.J., Chevalier de Bruni., C. Trevan.Letters to Esperance library April/May 1973 re discrepancies in dates of D'Entrecasteaux visitto Esperance (1972)*PR 10675/1

D'Entrecasteaux, A.R.J., Chevalier, B.Brief account of visit of the Recherche and Esperance to Esperance taken from 'Voyage' ofD'Entrecasteaux.

De Brune AldenEsperance the sunrise town (in Sydney "Daily Mail") 192?.PR 10675/3

Deed between State of W.A. and Esperance Plains (Aus.) Ltd. for development of EsperanceDowns area. 1956 (9p)PR 10675/18

Deed for development of Esperance Downs area.*PR 10675/18

Dempster family2516A

Dempster brothers letters to and from father2488A

Dempster, W.E.Eleven letters to J. Rintoul 1946-8.1230A

Esperance Anglican Church. St. Andrew. Records2922A3425A

Esperance Bay Company Ltd. Memorandum & ArticlesJan 1890 and Resolutions 1894-1914PR 10675/14

Esperance Bay Company Ltd. Records3293A

Esperance Bay Company Ltd. Records 1898-19531024A

Esperance Bay Company Ltd. Scrapbook of Newspaper Cuttings. May 1900-Dec 1916relating to Coolgardie-Esperance railway.PR 2703


Page 63

Esperance Bay Turf Club Centenary Cup Meeting 29 Feb. 1964. Programme (lop)*PR 3784/2

Esperance Bay Turf Club Centenary Meet. 29 Feb 1964 - programme.*PR 3784/2

Esperance Cemetery - transcript of tombstone inscriptions. 1982PR 2640

Esperance Centenary Souvenir and Ball programme. 1964*PR 3784/1-4

Esperance Courthouse Records783

Esperance Development Strategy Steering Committee Regional Planning W.A.Esperance Shire. 1986.Q307.14 ESP

Esperance Development Strategy Steering Committee Final Report. 1986 (264p)Q307.14 ESP

Esperance Downs Development Advisory Committee Report.Perth: Government Printer, 1955. (46p)Q333.73 WA: ESP

Esperance Downs Development Advisory Committee Report.Perth: Government Printer, 1956 (46p)Q333.7ESP

Esperance Fertilisers Pty Ltd route map and programme of opening. Nov. 1964PR 10675/15

Esperance Harbour official opening. 1965. (8p)*PR 9417/3PR 4205

Esperance Land Board Minutes of Meetings 1921-291121

Esperance linked by rail. Souvenir 1924. (4p)*PR 2832

Esperance Methodist Centre. 11 Oct 1970.PR 9585/1-

Esperance Municipal Council 1895-97. Minutes.977


Page 64

Esperance Municipal Council. Standing orders (By-law No.2) (8p)PR 10675/17

Esperance Pine Forests Ltd. Records3191A3295A

Esperance Roads Board Records12601848

Esperance Visitor Survey 1975/6 by WA Dept of Tourism andEsperance Tourist Bureau. 1976. (49p)*Q338.479102 WA: TOU

Esperance-Norseman Circuit. Methodist Church Records.1336A

Esperance Way '79 Celebrations (150 years)*PR 10474/1-

Exploration Diaries 1827-1871. Land 7 Surveys Dept.PR 5441

Extracts from journals logs. etc. about loss of anchorPR 80662420A

Hackett, J.W.Letter to Sir J Kirwan re railway. 6 July 1910.174A

Index to ships passengers 1899-1903782

Inventory of the late municipality of Esperance1898, 1908, 843

Kalgoorlie. Anglican Church DiocesePR 8616/1

Kemp Family papersMN 11593455A

Lea, Paulinehistoric homestead in the west. In New Idea. 24.3.79*PR9849/ 1


Page 65

May, G.M. & A.G. Hewbyletter to surveyor general. 1911.PR 9372

Moorehead, AlanLetter from Australia in New Yorker. 10 October 1964.PR 3911

Museum: Record tallies of shearing sheds*PR 11761/8

Order of Service for laying of foundation stone of St. Andrews. 1963.PR 3784/3

Petition to Governor requesting merger of Esperance Municipal Council and Roads Board.1028

Police Dept off. A.: Esperance records781

Progress reports on Scaddan Pine Plantation 1936-1947.1463

Public Works Dept. letter re construction of breakwater at Esperance Harbour to preserveAdmirality Bench mark and T. Windich's grave.1039

Public Works Dept. Including table of cargo statistics 1924-1970.Q627.3 WA: PUB

Public Works Dept Esperance small boat harbour investigations 1979. (41p).Q627.38 WA: PUB

Records of Dempster Brother Station 1873-1906335A(107)

Records of Esperance District 1902-3, 1910894A

Record of ships passengers 1893-1896113

Report on: Investigations into hydrology use of Pink Lake.Dept. of Conservation and Environment, 1986. (9p)Q551.482 PIN

Rintoul, J.History of Esperance: The Port of the Goldfields, 1792-1946. Esperance, 1946. (64p)*994 . 1 ESP


Page 66

Royal Commission on the Mallee Belt and Esperance Lands. 1917.Q631.4 WA: ROY

Scobie, G.M.Wool Economic research report 17. 1970. Bureau of Agricultural Economics338.17 AUS

Statistics of Dundas & Esperance. Bureau of Census and Statistics. 1960.PR 10675/9

The Goldfields and Esperance (map and tourist guide).Land and Surveys Dept, W.A. 1978. (32p)994.14 KAL

The Upgrading of the Widgiemooltha to Esperance Railway: tender documents. 1970. (13 ip)Q625.17 UPG

Vacuum terminals - new (Vacuum Oil Co.) in Esperance. In Vacuum Review Supplement(1960). (4p)PR 2505

Williams, J.R.Plan of track from Esperance to Fraser's Range. 1894.190A

Your visit to Esperance - March 1960. programme of official party for opening of VacuumOil Company's seaboard terminalQ665.5 VAC

ORAL HISTORIES

Alexander, Bob. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1224ttr

Bennetts, G. Interviewed by C. Jeffery in 1977.OH 1121 t

Booker, M.A. Interviewed by T. Daniell, 1983.OH 1121 t

Bostock, Emma. Reminiscences - broadcast on 6WF in Turn of the Century serieson 6.9.1951.PR 3480

Bostock, Emma. Esperance in the early days interview. 19461229A

Cavanagh, Gordon J. Interviewed by J. Teasdale. 22.8.1975.OH 70 t tr


Page 67

Chadwick, Thelma M. interviewed by J. Teasdale 13-15 June 1978.OH300ttr

Cox, E. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1138 ttr

Daniel, R.B. Interviewed by. C Creighton in 1983.OH 1140 ttr

Daniell, K. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1139 ttr

Daw, R.C. Interviewed by R. Jamieson in 1977.OH339ttr

De Grussa, A.W. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1208 ttr

De Grussa, Alfred, W. Interviewed by C. Creighton in June 1984.OH 1208 ttr

Dc Grussa, F. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1208 ttr

Derbyshire, D. & H. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH ll42ttr

Derbyshire, D. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1142 ttr

Dimer, Karl. Address to Historical Society. 1973.OH 177/2ttr

Dunn, E. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1234 ttr

Edwick, D. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1209 ttr

Edwick, D. & J. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1209 ttr

Freeman, F. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1235 tr

George, M.J. Interviewed by T. Daniell in 1983.(Restricted) OH 120 t

Gilmour, G. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1140 ttr


Page 68

Gilmour, G. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH ll44ttr

Grewar, G. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1211 ttr

Grigor, Alex. Interviewed by C. Creighton.OH 1145 ttr

Grigor, A. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1145 ttr

Grigor, A. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1145 ttr

Hagon, J. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH ll46ttr

Hagon, J. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1982, 1983.OH 1146 ttr

Ismail, G. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1214 ttr

Jardine, F. Interviewed by T. Daniell in 1983.(restricted) OH 1119 t

Jecks, Joan. Interviewed by C. Creighton.OH 1215 ttr

Johnstone, D. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1216 ttr

Kent, M. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1236 t

Lalor, M. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1146 ttr

Le Mercier. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1237 t

Lewis, G. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1218 ttr

Logan, C. & C. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1219 ttr

Mansell, A.S. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1147 ttr


Page 69

March, S. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH ll47ttr

Martin, C. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1238 t

McGinn, M.M. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1974OH 1289 t

Meyer, R. & S. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1220 ttr

Newton, B. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1221 ttr

O'Connor, R. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1222ttr

Orlando, S. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1270 ttr

Payne, B. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OHll5lttr

Rintoul, J. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1224ttr

Senior, Blake. Interviewed by C. Creighton.OH 1153 ttr

Shepherdson, K. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1154 ttr.

Smallwood, David. Interviewed by C. Creighton in April 1984 (17p).OH 1227 ttr

Stewart, W.C. Address to Historical Society 1976.OH 177/1 ttr

Syme, A. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1984.OH 1229 ttr

Thomas, I.M. Interviewed by T. Daniell in 1983.OH 1122t

Thomas, R. Interviewed by T. Daniell in 1983. (restricted)OH 120t

Torpy, T. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1228 ttr


Page 70

Wall, Dorothy. Interviewed by T. Daniell. Dec 1984.OH 1288 ttr

Whittem, L. Interviewed by T. Daniell in 1984.Oh l23Ottr

Wright, C. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH l2l7ttr

Wylie, G. Interviewed by C. Creighton in 1983.OH 1231 ttr

SECONDARY RESOURCE MATERIAL

Agriculture Dept of W.A. Esperance Downs Research Station. Perth: Govt Pr. 1964 (23p).630.62 WA:AGR

An Esperance Digest memories Past and Present. Compiled by the Esperance Branch of theFellowship of Australian Writers 1988.994.17

Anderson, Ronald and associates. Land of the Lazy Wind. (History of agriculture1890's-1969). 1969. (12p)PR 10675/8

Anglican Church - 'St Paul' Kalgoorlie Anglican Diocesan News - brief history etc (24p)PR 8616/1

Anthology: Writers from Esperance W.A. The Printing Press 1983 (120p).826.8A (W) ANT

Braid, Eva, Charles Fitzgerald Fraser of Dowerin and Esperance. In R.W.A.H.S. Jnl andProc. Vol. VII Part IV 1972. pp.82-94.

*Brief History of EsperanceRN 588

Bruce-Smith, Georgie. History of the Catholic Church in Esperance, 1792-1982 (72p).Roman Catholic Church in Grass patch is 'Our lady of the Church'.282.9417 BRU

Cotton, E. The Dempsters at Esperance Bay (3p).PR 4115


Page 71

Dempster, F. Andrew Dempster - founder of Esperance and Muresk. 1967. (6p)PR 5606

Dempster HousePr 9849/1-

Devine, Donna. Esperance and Districts. Wembley, W.A. Emu Souvenirs 197?919.417 ESP

Douglas, F.A. Biographical notes by son (1850-1916). (4p)PR 8697

Dunn, Robin (Clipping) Esperance: 75 years of worship within corrugated iron. In WesternMethodist Oct 1970.

Elliot, B. Six Selected Views of Esperance (1950's) - leaflet.PR 10675/5

Erickson, Rica. The Dempsters. Nedlands. University of Western Australia. 1978. (297p)(1830-1900)B/DEM

Esperance Bay Historical Society. Notes on early settlers.2510A

*Esperance . Collection of material.PR 9417/1-PR 10675/13

*Esperance District - collection of infoPR 10675/1-

Esperance District. Notes etc C 1920's and 1930's.1142A

*Esperance Fertilisers Pty Ltd. Route map and programm of opening. Nov 1964.PR 10675/15

Esperance Hinterland. W.A. Govt. 1965. (23p)338.1099417 ESP

Esperance Institute - list of authors and titles.440.A

*Esperance Municipal MuseumPR 11761/1-

Esperance Port Strategy. Esperance Port Authority. 1986. (25p)Q387.109 ESP


Page 72

Esperance Post Office: Historical Report. Dept of Works, Architectural Division. Perth,1969. (20p)725.16 AUS

Esperance Sandplain Research Seminar. Feb. 1986. Dept of Agriculture, W.A. (66p).Q631 ESP

Esperance Sheep Field Day: Esperance Downs Research Station, Oct 1986.Q636.308 ESP

Esperance Stories from The Modern Pioneers compiled by the Esperance Branch of TheFellowship of Australian Writers above. 1992.994.17

*Esperance Tourist InformationPR 9991/1-

*Esperance: the ideal holiday place (1920) (4p)PR 10675/2

Fels, M.A. A History of the port of Esperance and its Hinterland. 1986. (17p)Q386.109 FEL

Finlay, 0. A. Notes on the Ponton Brothers. 1976. (3p)PR 8745

*Firth, Rose. The Port of Esperance, 1864, 1963. Thesis: Mt Lawley Teachers College 197?(2lp)387.109 FIR

Goldfields & Esperance: complete map coverage & tourist guide. Dept of Land & Surveys.1983. (33p)919.416 KAL

Hardy, J.M. A History of Esperance. Thesis. 196? (1 83p)994.17 ESP

*History & Tourist Information (4p)PR 9991/24

*Hogarth, Valerie A. The Esperance plains research station and the development of theEsperance plains 1950-1966. 1966. (25 & 16p).630.72 HOG

Jardine, F. Part of the Way: Memoirs Esperance, 1979. (57p)B/JAR


Page 73

Linidetter, Art. Linidetter down under Sydney. London, 1968. (222p)994 LIN

Mogumber Methodist Mission records restricted

Murray, D. Community education - recommendations for Esperance Senior High. SchoolsCommission, Services & Development Committee, 1979. (75p)Q374 MUR

*Museum: Lucky Bay botanical notes.PR 11761/9

*Museum: Shearing Terms were tough in 1881.PR 11761/6

*Notes on Early Settlement (1p)Rn 655

On, T.R.B. Material relating to T & F On.PR 9702/1-

Population and Workforce projection: Shires of Esperance and Ravensthorpe. Office of theN.W. and Dept of Industrial, Commercial & Regional Development 1982. (40p)Q331.123 POP

*progressive Esperance: what to do etc. 1955. (48p)PR 10675/4

Public Works Dept: Esperance Beach Investigations.Q55 1.36 WA: PUB

Reitze, Lucy E. Thomas and Florence On. 1977. (21p)PR 9702/1

*Rjntoul, John, comp Esperance yesterday and today. Perth, Service Printing Co., 1964.(202p)994.11 ESP

John, comp. Esperance yesterday and today 4th edition. 1986 (249p)994.17 ESP

Rundell, Kathleen A. The Stewarts of Dalyup 1979. (8p)PR 9686/1

Scott (W.D.) & Co. Pty Ltd. Reports to Esperance Shire Council Perth, 1973.Q352.09417 ESP

Sledge, S. Brief report on research to find exact location of anchor from the "Esperance"1792 (4p) 1974.PR 8066


Page 74

Stewart Family of Dalyup - material.PR 9686/1-

The Esperance lands & Railway, Kalgoorlie. 1911. (lop)PR 448

The Esperance Youth Hostel PamphletPR 4809/29

Thomas, Donald L. The Kemp Family of Esperance 1977. (14p)QB/KEM

Visit to Orleans Farm - tourist leaflet ipPR 10675/19

*Vihltwell, B. 335 Years of History at Esperance. 1961. (4p)PR 10675/6

NEWSPAPERS

Esperance Advertiser 1965-1974Esperance Chronicle & Dundas & Norseman Advertiser 1895-1898Esperance Echo 1929-1929Esperance Express 1973 -Esperance News Express 1965 - 1965Esperance Times 1896-1898Goldfields Weekender 1981-1981Norseman Advertiser 1935-1936Norseman Esperance Guardian & Dundas Goldfields Advertiser 1896-1896Norseman Esperance News 1936 - 1957Norseman Pioneer 1896-1897Norseman Times 1898-1920Recherche Gazette 1994 -

Old Serials Catalogue

Esperance Bay Bulletin 5 July 1984 -(Rotary Club) weekly

Esperance Bay Chronicle 1984 for Historical Society.

Esperance Lions Roar

Esperance Rotary Review -weekly

Hope Parish Magazine of St Andrews Church - monthly Feb 1962 -

Wave Length (E.B. Yatch & Club) Dec 1972-May 1978, bi-monthly.


Page 75

The Challenge (E. Lutheran Church).

PHOTOGRAPHS

Pictoral Collection: 119

Grass Patch: 7Scaddan: 2Gibson: 1 - Gibson Soak Hotel

Copy Print Collection: 90

Grass Patch: 4Gibson: 1 - Gibson Soak Hotel


FOREWORD TO PLACE RECORD FORMS

The information for these Place Record Forms was compiled by themembers of the Esperance Heritage Inventory Community Committeeand was edited and processed by O'Brien Planning Consultants. It wascollected from a number of sources. In most cases the owners,proprietors or related people have provided some of the information, forwhich we are most grateful. Other information is based on thememories of long-time residents in the district. Without their input thisreport would not have been possible. Our sincere thanks to you all.

It is inevitable that there will be some things which may not be entirelyaccurate. If time and further research show up some inconsistencies, itwill be possible to remedy these when the Inventory is reviewed in fouryears time. We would encourage people to submit the correctinformation to the Shire for the review process.

Val O'BrienJune 1996

Page 1

SHIRE OF ESPERANCEMUNICIPAL HERITAGE INVENTORY

Place NAME DATE ADDRESSNo01 Balbinya (Balbinia) Station 1883 Location 4, Mardabilla, Esperance02 Bayview (Bay View) 1903 141 Dempster Street, Esperance03 Bijou Theatre 1896 115 Dempster Street, Esperance04 Bonded Store and Railway Goods 1895- Cnr James Street and The Esplanade,

Shed 1898 Esperance05 Burraburinya Dam 1885 Parmango Road, Esperance06 Cemetery - Pink Lake Road 1897 Pink Lake Road, Esperance07 Chimbu Trading Post - 1896- Museum Park Village, Esperance

Sinclair's House 1920s08 Civic Centre 1981 Council Place, Esperance09 Dempster Homestead 1876 155 Dempster Street, Esperance10 Dempsters' Stone Well c1870s Cnr Connolly and Stewart Streets,

Esperance11 Dempsters' Woolshed and Sheep Dip 1898 Opposite Quarry and Fisheries Roads

intersection, Esperance12 Deralinya Station 1890 Parmango Road, Esperance13 Doctor's Surgery 1900 Andrew Street, Esperance14 Dunns' Boyatup Farm 1895 Cnr Merivale & Jims Oven Road,

Esperance15 Elston's Bazaar and Stationery Shop 1896 Museum Park, Esperance16 Esperance Admirality Bench Mark 1897 Esperance Harbour, Esperance17 Esperance Hospital 1925 Taylor Street, Esperance18 Esperance Municipal Offices 1896 19 Andrew Street, Esperance19 Esperance Shire Council Offices 1992 Windich Street, Esperance20 Fresh Air League 1920s Goldfields Road, Esperance21 Gabtoobitch 1903 Cape Arid, Esperance22 Gibson Soak 1896 Gibson Townsite, Gibson23 Gilmore's Temperance Hotel-Scaddan c1915 South West Cnr Coolgardie - Esperance

Highway and Raszyk Road, Scaddan24 Grass Patch Farm Homestead 1904 Tom Starcevich VC Road, Grass Patch25 Grass Patch Cemetery 1917 Crown Land Loc 23526 Grass Patch Hotel 1926-7 8 Thompson Street, Grass Patch27 Grass Patch Store 1926-7 14 Thompson Street, Grass Patch28 Headmaster's House 1933 Museum Park, Esperance29 Hill Springs 1903 Cape Arid, Esperance30 Israelite Bay Post and Telegraph 1895

Station and Buildings31 Kangawarrie Tank 1880s 8 kms due north of Mt Esmond32 1 Lynburn Station 1872 Thomas River


Page 2

Place No NAME DATE ADDRESS

33 McCarthy's House 1919 16 The Esplanade, Esperance

34 Middle Island 1835 Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve,Cape Arid

35 Moirs 'Fanny Cove Homestead' 0872 Stokes National Park, Esperance

36 Morton Bay Fig Tree 1897 Cnr William/Dempster Streets

37 Murtadinia Dam 1880s Ten kilometres NNE of Balbinya,Esperance

38 Newtown Jetty 1894 Castletown Quays, Esperance

39 Norfolk Pine Trees 1896 Andrew Street and Dempster Street,Esperance

40 Old Camping Ground 1893 The Esplanade, Esperance (near EPAPark)

41(a) Old Fish Cannery 1948 Norseman Road, Esperance

41(b) Tree at Old Fish Cannery Norseman Road, Esperance

42 Old Hospital - First Government 1896 1 A William Street, EsperanceHospital

43 OTC Wireless Station 1913 Lot 697 Cnr Off & Doust Streets,Esperance

44 Pine Hill Earth Dam 1874 Baladonia/Mt Ragged Road, Esperance

45 Pink Lake Salt Shed 1930s Collier Siding, Pink Lake Drive,Esperance

46 Police Sergeant's Quarters 6927 Museum Park, Esperance

47 Railway Dam & Catchment 1921-2 Dempster Head, Esperance48(a) Station Master's Office/Railway Ticket 1927 Dempster Street, Esperance

Office48(b) Railway Waiting Room 1927 Dempster Street, Esperance49 RSL Headquarters (1st School) 1895 Dempster Street, Esperance50 Salmon Gums Hotel 1926-7 Salmon Gums Townsite, Salmon Gums51 Salmon Gums Primary School 1906 Museum Park, Esperance52 Seafarers Centre 1940s Dempster Street, Esperance53 Tanker Jetty 193554 Tommy Windich Grave 1876 Lot 72855 Tooklejenna 1890s 9.6 kilometres from Pt Malcolm56 War Memorial 6924 Dempster Street, Esperance57 Watering Places - Aboriginal Names

on Mt Ragged Rd58 Waterwitch Obelisk Reserve 1897 Cnr Jane & Black Street, Esperance59 Wesleyan Church 1897 Museum Park, Esperance


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LIST OF PLACES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH BY REVIEW COMMITTEE

1. Bowanya

2. Dempster Street House (Grey Starling Restaurant)

3. House in Dempster Street (near cnr William Street)

4. House in Emily Street

5. Memorial Grove

6. Nanambinya (Nanambinia)

7. Reserves: Cape Arid Nation ParkCape Le Grand National ParkCheetup Hill in Cape Le Grand National ParkRecherche ArchipelagoTruslove Nature ReserveAlexander Rivermouth QuarryBandi CaveBoyatup Art and Occupation SiteMt Ridley Art SitePeak Charles National Park

8. RSL Hall at Cascades

9. Schools: Esperance Primary SchoolEsperance High SchoolCastletown SchoolNulsen School

10. Shops in Dempster Street (opp original Post Office)

11. Sinclair's House - Taylor Street

12. Small houses in 'old' part of Esperance

13. Wind Farm


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LIST OF HISTORIC SITES

Site No NAME DATE LOCATION OF SITE SIGNIFICANCE

SQl Dempster's Woolshed and 1876 East Loc 1, Built for James Dempster in 1875/76 byJetty now 86 The Esplanade, stonemason Langham. The woolshed

Esperance was linked by a tram line to theNow part of Esperance Bay Dempsters' Jetty, or 'Little Jetty', locatedCaravan Park south of Emily Street. The jetty was

built in the 1870s to facilitatetransporting sheep to the islands andunloading cargo from the lighters andlongboats of the schooners of Sherratt,Thomas and McKenzie and laterDouglas. Only small sloops and cutterscould lie alongside and then only incalm weather.

S02 Telegraph Station, 1876 Lot 19 Reserve No 4107 This repeater station for the telegraphEsperance Bay link was a small, square timber

weatherboard building. It had views upto Dempster's homestead. It wasopened in September 1876 and wasmanned by George Stevens.

S03 First Police Station 1879 Govt Reserve 2434 After the murders of John Moir on29.3.1877, and of John Dunn, a policepresence in the district was desirable.In 1879 the police station and livingquarters were built. It was a singlestorey building, with verandah, made ofwhite limestone. Adjoining were astable yard and a small two-roomedlock up. A new building was built on anew site on Lot 29 in 1926. This is thesite of the present police station.

SO4 Esperance Hotel 1893 Andrew Steet/The The Esperance Hotel was built in 1893.Esplanade The front wall was clad with timber

panels designed to resemble stone andthe side walls were corrugated iron, aswas the roof. A new two-storey hotelwas built in 1896, which had 55 bedsand included a saloon bar and billiardroom. The building had a bullnosedverandah and wrought iron lacework.John Purchase was the first proprietor.The Esperance Hotel was destroyed byfire in 1958.


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S05 Pier Hotel 1894 Andrew Street The Pier Hotel was built in 1894 byRobert Symes. In 1896 the proprietorwas Mrs S Gaul, and the licensee wasMrs Opie. In 1900 Josephine Heenanpurchased the hotel, and her husbandMichael was the licensee. The hotelwas destroyed by fire in 1910.

S06 Grace Darling Hotel 1894 Built in 1894, the single storey GraceDarling Hotel was in the main street,facing the sea. Built of tin, it was on acorner block, and had a woodenverandah with lace iron trim. It wasone of the group of hotels which sprangup in the mid 1890s as a result of therush to the goldfields.

S07 Royal Hotel 1895 The two-storey Royal Hotel had thesame patterned ironwork as theEsperance Hotel, with woodenverandah posts. A billiard room wasadded to the Royal, with a stonefrontage and a skylight in the roof.

S08 Grass Patch Wayside Inn 1894 The Pub Paddock, This inn was one of the very fewLoc. 10 Fitzgerald, stopping places for gold seekers onGrass Patch their way to the gold fields. Charles

Donat Keyser applied for a GallonLicence for "The Paddock", and it wassoon upgraded to a wayside licence latein 1894. It was a timber and ironbuilding. The pub was used until 1927when the New Hotel was built 'intown', by the Heenans, who then ownedthe hotel.

S09 Esperance Cordial 1895 Lot 55 Dempster Street The corrugated iron factory was builtFactory/Brewery in 1895 by E J McCarthy. The tower

was designed by Thomas Edwards. Itwas first called the Esperance CordialFactory and Brewery, and later becamethe Esperance Brewery Company,brewing its own 'Esperance Ale'. Thecompany was bought by aRavensthorpe based company in 1906and it then traded as the Phillips RiverBrewery and Aerated Waters Co.


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S 10 Esperance Bay Jetty 1895 At the end of James St Built in 1895 to facilitate the loading

(later called 'Old Jetty', and unloading of goods, the Esperance'Town Jetty', 'James St Bay Jetty was extended between 1896

Jetty ' after the 'New Jetty and 1898. At a point of 1285 feet the

was built in 1935). structure was curved at an angle of149°as the water was too shallow. Theextensions were completed in March1898. The jetty was significant for thedevelopment of the port and was finallycompleted and handed to the CustomsDepartment early in 1898. It wasdemolished after 1973.

Sil Old Cemetery pre 1897 Pink Lake Road Between 1895 and 1897 there were anumber of burials in the cemetery.Typhoid claimed two victims duringthat time. The ground was given tothe Crickent Association and then, inJuly 1897, fourteen bodies wereremoved to a new cemetery (8'A acres)which is the present cemetery. Waterwas laid to the ground early in 1898.It is now the Esperance Football Oval.

S12 Post and Telegraph Office 1895 Original 19 Reserve No A Post and Telegraph Office was built4107 in 1895-96. It was made of granite,Cur Andrew/Dempster with an iron roof, and was surroundedStreets by verandahs. The original pine tree,

planted in the 1896, is still on the site.The old building was dismantled in the1971 for Australia Post.

S13 Fire Brigade Stations 1898 Andrew Street A small timber framed building, with1903 Dempster Street an iron roof and timber (weatherboard)

walls, was built to house the FireBrigade in 1898. The Esperance FireEngine had arrived from England in1897. In 1903 the station was movedto Lot 12 Dempster Street, where someparts of the building, eg the tower,were utilised in the new Fire BrigadeStation. The demolition date is notcertain.


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S14 St Andrew's Anglican 1896 Pink Lake Road Opened in 1896, the galvanised iron

Church church building had a porch, a crossmounted on the gable of the roof, and apresbytery. Extensions were addded inabout 1915. The church wasdemolished in 1962, and a new churchwas built in 1963. The old hail wasused as the Op Shop until it wasdemolished in 1995. The rectory wasalso demolished in 1995 to make wayfor a church community hall.

S15 Salmon Gums Wayside Inn 1896 64 mile point, Esperance to The timber and galvanised ironNorseman Road, approx Wayside Inn was one of the wayside1 km south of the present stopping places from Esperance totownsite Norsemen, for travellers on their way

to the goldfields.

S16 Esperance School 1897 Formerly Recreation Ground The school, with limestone walls and aLot 104-110 corrugated iron roof, was built in 1897

at a cost of 0,500. It was based on theplans of the Coolgardie School. Thewindows were placed on the wrongside, therefore the lighting was poor. Averandah ran the whole length of thebuilding and down one sid.. Carvedtimber posts supported the'v6randahwhich had a dirt floor. New schoolbuildings were erected in 1958 and thestone school was used for science andhome science. The old school wasdemolished in 1962/63.

S17 Old Newtown Hail 1897 Built in 1895 by the Esperance LandCorporation. the corrugated ironbuilding was raised on paper barkwood stilts. The hall had a tower, withspace for a clock. A clock in thecustoms shed was donated byMr Mathews for installation in the FireBrigade Tower in Esperance. The clocktower was moved in 1947 to behind theshops in Dempster Street.


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S18 Water Condenser Sites 1895 Various sites, worked out Jocks Condenser 92 mile, 1895

according to the necessaryRest Dams 1920s- water of stock Fred Gilmores 90 mile

1930s

Swan Lagoon Nature Reserve(Res No 8019)

Styles Rock Loc 66 Tank 5

Red Lake Loc 115 Tank

58 Mile Lewis' Circle ValleyLoc257 Tank Loc 600 Tank 17

ESG Loc 516 Tank 2

Challenger SoakLoc 231 (65 mls NW ofSalmon Gums)Loc298 Tank 1Loc 196 Tank 15

Water (Dam Site)Loc 211Loc 562 Tank 16Loc499 Tank 18

S19 Butcher's Shop and House 1904 This was an example of a smallgalvanised iron house and shop,containing one or two rooms. Itdemonstrated the simplistic living styleof the early settlers.

S20 Synnot's House & Aerated 0915 69 Windich Street The house was built around 1915. TheWater Factory owner, R Synnot. who was a prominent

business man and owner of the saltcompany, also built a factory formineral waters. It was originallynearer the Esplanade, but it was movedalongside the house in 1927. It issuggested that the house utilised'recycled materials' eg a bullnoseverandah from the old hotel. It wasdemolished in 1995, and somematerials were saved and used, eg rooftimbers, tin and doors for DeralinyaStation.

S21 Esperance Tennis Club prior to Behind the old Pier Hotel The tennis club was formed in 1896Courts 1915 and stone school building and these courts were built prior to

(by this time the Municipal 1915.Offices).


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S22 Railway Salmon Gums 1925/27 The opening of the railway line fromEsperance to Salmon Gums in 1925and from Salmon Gums to Norsemanin 1927 finally provided the linkbetween Esperance and thegoldfieldsareas.

S23 Emily Street Taxi Service 1930 13 Emily Street The garage and taxi service wereowned by a Mr Gilmore who operateda taxi service from 1949 until 1954.The taxi was used to bring children toschool as settlements opened up on theouter circle of farms aroundEsperance. It is recorded that sixchildren or more were put into the taxifor the trip to school.

Gordon Gilmore and his father alsooperated the State Machinery and FordAgencies at Scaddan and SalmonGums in 1929.

S24 First Esperance Shire 1965 Windich Street The brick building with metal deckingCouncil Offices was opened as the municipal offices in

1965. A number of office additionswere made to the original construction.The building was completeleydemolished in Oct 1990 and the newShire Offices have been built on thesite.


Documents

Shire of Esperance MUNICIPAL HERITAGE INVENTORYfor The Shire of Esperance. by O'Brien Planning Consultants Suite 23/1 Rokeby Road P0 Box 1136 SUBIACO WA 6008 Tel: 388 2308 Fax: 388